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National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP)

Frequent Questions

How do I order an EPA publication?

You can order a document using the electronic bookshelf, using the publications ordering phone service, by fax or mail. Complete instructions and information are available at: http://www.epa.gov/nscep/ordering.html

I'm having difficulty ordering documents. Now what?

Electronic Bookshelf instructions (http://www.epa.gov/nscep/ordering.html) are available. You may be having difficulties using the order features because you do not have Cookies enabled on your web browser. Publication descriptions can be viewed and searched without Cookies enabled. However, in order to use the online Ordering feature features, you must have cookies enabled in your web browser. See EPA website cookies and cookie policy (http://www.epa.gov/epahome/usenotice.htm) for more information.

Having problems using searching features on this website?
Who do I contact for help using this site?

CONTACT INFORMATION for NSCEP

  • For assistance ordering publications, call 1-800-490-9198. Speak to an operator Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM, E.S.T. Leave an order 24-hours a day.
  • For help with NSCEP web page related questions contact NSCEP/NEPIS Technical Support (nscep_nepis.tech@epa.gov).
I can't find my document in the catalog - now what?

If the document is not available in paper copy and you cannot locate the online copy through the NSCEP database, you can contact the National Technical Information Service, NTIS (http://www.ntis.gov), they may have a copy available.

I'm looking for:
Is there a charge for my document?

There is no charge for in-stock, paper publications provided by the National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP). Copies of out of stock publications obtained through the National Technical Information Service (http://www.ntis.gov), or other government document repositories may charge a fee.

Where do I put my charge card information?

There is no charge for publications by the National Service Center for Environmental Publications. Please do not forward credit card information. The NSCEP does not accept credit cards.

I need my document immediately. Can I get expedited shipment?

Yes, we can send your order FedEx or UPS, if you provide your Federal Express or United Postal Service account number at the time you place your order. You can contact NSCEP at 1-800-490-9198 between the hours of 9:00 am to 5:30 pm EST, Monday through Friday, to place your order and provide account information to an operator. You can fax a copy of the order form with your account information to 301-604-3408, 24/7. Your order will be processed the first business day after receipt. Please include your phone number so that the operator can verify your account number and continue processing your request.

My Electronic Bookshelf is not working. What’s wrong?

You must have cookies and JavaScript enabled in your web browser to use the online bookshelf features of NSCEP. Enabling JavaScript and cookies (http://www.epa.gov/nscep/enable_javascript_cookies.html)

I added items to my electronic bookshelf but when I went back to it, it was empty. Was my order placed?

Ensure you have selected the title and checked the box before going into the “bookshelf” function. If you continue to have problems, please contact NSCEP at 1-800-490-9198.

How do I know that my order was received?

Upon completion of your order, you should receive a confirmation/tracking number. If you do not see the number displayed on a thank you screen, your order was not processed. Please resubmit your information. If you continue having difficulties, please contact NSCEP at 1-800-490-9198.

How many titles may I order?

Routinely, you may order one copy each of up to five titles within a two week period. If you have a need for multiple copies, please contact NSCEP at 1-800-490-9198 during the normal business hours of Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET.

Are documents available online?

In many instances, your documents will be available on line through the NSCEP’s electronic repository. Please go to the homepage and conduct a digital search to view our full text titles in the online database. Selected documents are also available through individual program/regional web pages at Publications and Newsletters (http://www.epa.gov/epahome/publications2.htm)

What is a (RSS) Publication Feed and how do I use it?

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. It's an easy way for you to keep up with the new publications posted on our website. Now the content you want can be delivered directly to you without cluttering your in-box with e-mail messages. This content is called a "feed." We offer various publication feeds by areas. When you subscribe to our feed it is added to the common feed list. When new documents are added to the website in the area you have subscribed to, the information is automatically downloaded to your computer and can be viewed in your web browser.

I'm having problems accessing the electronic documents in the electronic repository. Is there help available?

Please refer to the Quick Tips page (http://www.epa.gov/nscep/quick_tips.html), for assistance. If you cannot resolve the problem and/or need more assistance, please forward the nature of your technical difficulties to Contact Us (http://www.epa.gov/nscep/comments.html). If you provide your email address, we will respond to your request for assistance in a timely manner.

How do I download or print one page or selected pages from the electronic database/repository?

Save and/or print individual pages via your browser. Please refer to the quick tips (http://www.epa.gov/nscep/quick_tips.html#Obtain_Documents) if you require assistance. For printing larger segments of a document, it is recommended that you download in “PDF” format and use the PDF reader to select what pages to print. If you experience difficulties it may be because your bandwidth is insufficient. If this is the case, you may wish to print or download your document in smaller sections. After reading the help section and you are still experiencing problems, please send an email to Contact Us (http://www.epa.gov/nscep/comments.html). You will receive a response in a timely manner if you provide us your email address so we can respond.

Are there paper copies of the online documents available to order?

To confirm if a printed document is available, please contact the National Service Center for Environmental Publications, (NSCEP) directly (1-800-490-9198) or search the catalog. When searching the catalog, you will see an icon that represents the USPS if the document is available in a paper copy. If the document is not available from the NSCEP, you can contact the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) (http://www.ntis.gov). The NTIS charges a nominal fee for copies of its publications.

I live outside of the United States. May I still order from the National Service Center for Environmental Publications?

We can ship international orders but there may be some restrictions. Please expect a delay in receiving your order as deliveries can take up to 10 weeks in some locations. Please feel free to place your order electronically at Ordering (http://www.epa.gov/nscep/ordering.html).

You can also fax your order to 301-604-3408, or post your order to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/NSCEP, P.O. Box 42419, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA 45242-2419. If your order cannot be fulfilled you will get a response back from NSCEP.

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