The Exchange Network: A Tool for Better Environmental Management

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The Exchange NetworkA Tool for Better
Environmental Management

Jonathan Jacobson US Environmental Protection
Agency
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Exchange Network Vision

• The Exchange Network is a partnership to support
  better environmental decisions through improved
  access to, and exchange of environmental
  information.

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What is the Exchange Network?
An Internet and standards-based method for
securely exchanging environmental information
between partners
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Why the Exchange Network?

• A better method for data exchange among states,
  tribes, US EPA
• Efficient business processes to reduce
  operational costs
• Better environmental decisions through improved
  data quality and access

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How Can the Exchange Network Help Tribes?

• Access to environmental and health concern
  information
• Example methamphetamines, water quality
• Provide evidence to Congress to obtain funds to
  address environmental issues
• Example solid, hazardous wastes, clean water
• Share information with other agencies
• Example open dump information to EPA and the
  Indian Health Service
• Comply with federal regulations
• Example Air Quality System (AQS) data

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Tribal Participation in Governance

• Exchange Network Leadership Council (ENLC)
• Robert Holden, Director, Emergency Management and
  Radioactive Waste Programs, NCAI
• Network Operations Board (NOB)
• Bruce Gold, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
• Network Partnership Resources Group (NPRG)
• Angie Reed, Penobscot Tribe
• Network Technical Group (NTG)
• Tony Hartrich, Quinault Tribe

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EN Grants Current Status

• Eighth year of Grant Program
• FY 2008 awards completed September 2008
• 13.3 million awarded in total
• 1.8 million awarded to 8 tribes, including 3 new
  tribes
• FY 2009 Grants Currently in Processing
• 11.2 million to be awarded in total
• 2 million to be awarded to 8 tribes
• Selection letters will be going out in the next
  few weeks
• Final awards expected in July/August

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Tribal Grants and Exchange Network Participation

• To date 100 Tribal Grants (through 2008) have
  been awarded (15.1 M Total)
• 58 tribes have received grants
• 28 tribes intend to use the Network to exchange
  information
• Eight tribes have established nodes (data
  exchange hardware/software)
• Several tribes are close to having working nodes

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Tribal Exchange Network Partners
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Open Dump Inventory

• Started by Cherokee Nation with other Tribes, EPA
  Regional, and HQ assistance
• Primary mechanism for reporting open dump
  information to EPA and the Indian Public Health
  Service
• The Open Dump Data Flow is an eligible Grant
  Proposal activity

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Water Quality Exchange

• Used by states and tribes to report water quality
  monitoring data
• Physical, chemical fish tissue data
• Capable of handling biological data
• WQX feeds directly to the publicly-accessible
  national data warehouse
• - Yurok, Wind River, St. Regis Mohawk Tribes
  tested WQX

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Air Quality System - AQS

• Handles air quality data
• Permits data exchanges from Tribes to EPA and
  among Tribes
• Allows public access (with tribal permission)

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Climate Change Reporting

• US EPA to use Clean Air Act authority to
• Publish new rule by June 2009 requiring mandatory
  greenhouse gas emissions reporting at appropriate
  thresholds
• Tribal/State/EPA Agreement
• Exchange Network to be used for reporting
  greenhouse gases from industry to EPA to states,
  tribes

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Montanas MethNet

• Data Elements
• Location
• Property Owner
• Meth Cooking Method
• Chemicals on Site
• Impacts to Structures Property
• Benefits
• Improved communication data access
• Timely and accurate reporting
• More informed public
• Improved environmental protection
• MethNet will connect
• Department of Justice
• Department of Environmental Quality
• Department of Public Health Human Services

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Exchange Network Basics

How do you?
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Resources and Contacts

• EPA Exchange Network http//www.epa.gov/exchangene
  twork
• Exchange Network http//www.exchangenetwork.net
• Exchange Network Coordinator
• mitch.west_at_exchangenetwork.net
• Robert Holden rholden_at_ncai.org
• Tony Hartrich thartrich_at_quinault.org
• Angie Reed angie.reed_at_penobscotnation.org
• Jonathan Jacobson jacobson.jonathan_at_epa.gov
• Karl Alvarez alvarez.karl_at_epa.gov
• Michael Beaulac beaulacm_at_michigan.gov