The Exchange Network: A Tool for Better Environmental Management

1
The Exchange NetworkA Tool for Better
Environmental Management
Doreen Sterling, Director Information Exchange
Services Division Office of Environmental
Information US Environmental Protection Agency
Michael N. Beaulac State Assistant
Administrator Department of Environmental
Quality State of Michigan
2
Exchange Network Vision

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

3
What is the Exchange Network?
An Internet and Standards-based method for
securely exchanging environmental information
between partners
4
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

5
How Can the Exchange Network Help Tribes?

• Access to environmental and health concern
  information
• Example Methamphetamines
• 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

6
Tribal Exchange Network Partners
7
EN Grants Current Status

• Seventh year of Grant Program
• FY 2007 awards completed September 2007
• 3.0M awarded
• 16 tribes received grants
• 3 new tribes
• FY 2008 awards currently being processed
• 13.7 million selected for award (all applicants)
• 2.2 million selected for award (tribal
  applicants)
• FY 2009 Solicitation Notice should be posted in
  9/2008 with applications due by 11/2008
• Stakeholder conference call to solicit comments
  will be held in July or early August

8
Tribal Exchange Network Participation

• To date 92 Tribal Grants (through 2007) have
  been awarded (13.3M Total)
• 53 tribes involved
• 28 tribes intend to use the Network to exchange
  information
• Seven tribes have established nodes (data
  exchange hardware/software)
• Several tribes are close to having working nodes

9
Tribal Participation in Governance

• Exchange Network Leadership Council (ENLC)
• Robert Holden, Director, Emergency Management and
  Radioactive Waste Programs, NCAI
• Network Operations Board (NOB)
• Laura Mayo, Yurok Tribe
• Network Partnership Resources Group (NPRG)
• TBD
• Network Technical Group (NTG)
• Tony Hartrich, Quinault Tribe

10
Air Quality System - AQS

• Handles a wider set of air quality data
• Will accommodate near real- time exchange of
  minute-by-minute particulate and ozone (AirNow)
  data
• Flexible allows exchanges with partners other
  than EPA (i.e. Tribe-to-Tribe)
• Data Publishing to allow for public access

11
Water Quality Exchange
Live in Production - 2/26/07

• New, easier framework for states, tribes, and
  others to exchange water quality monitoring data
• Submit Physical, Chemical Fish Tissue data
• Capable of submitting Biological Data
• WQX feeds directly to the publicly-accessible
  National STORET Data Warehouse
• - Yurok, Wind River, St. Regis Mohawk Tribes
  tested WQX

12
Open Dump Inventory

• Started by Cherokee Nation with other Tribes, EPA
  Regional, and HQ assistance
• Expected to be the primary mechanism for the
  reporting of open dump information to EPA and the
  Indian Public Health Service
• The Open Dump schema is soon to be ready for
  testing by Tribes before it is finalized
• The Open Dump Data Flow is an eligible Grant
  Proposal activity

13
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

14
Homeland Security Emergency Management

• Key data sets like water supplies, hazardous
  materials, facilities, schools, storage tanks,
  hospitals, critical contacts, etc.
• Linkages between/among tribes, states and federal
  government
• First Responder and Emergency Operation Center
  for crisis management
• 24/7 operations

15
Resources and Contacts

• EPA Exchange Network http//www.epa.gov/exchangene
  twork
• Exchange Network http//www.exchangenetwork.net
• Robert Holden rholden_at_ncai.org
• Laura Mayo mayo_at_yuroktribe.nsn.us
• Tony Hartrich thartrich_at_quinault.org
• Doreen Sterling sterling.doreen_at_epa.gov
• Michael Beaulac beaulacm_at_michigan.gov