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 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 EPAs 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