United States Office of Water June 1994
Environmental Protection Ground Water Protection Division
Agency (4602)
Ground Water Information
Systems Roadmap
A Directory of EPA Systems Containing
Ground Water Data
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Ground Water Information Systems Roadmap
Information Update Form
I. Information Reviewer To be completed by person submitting information,
Submitted by: Date:
EPA Office/Division: _
Address: Phone No.:
n. Data System Information
Section of Report:
Page Number:
Data System Name/Information Relevant to Data System:
New Entry:
Revision:
Abstract (Or Attach Relevant Information):
Contact Information
Please provide information on the individual who will be listed In the Roadmap as the primary contact.
Name:
Phone Number:
Mail Code: _
EPA Office:
tor GWPD Use Only
; Date Received:
! Information Verified:
= Initials:
Send information to:
Harriet T. Colbert
U.S. EPA
Office of Ground Water
and Drinking Water (4602)
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
Voice Number: (202)260-2302
Fax Number: (202) 260-0732
E-Mail (Colbert.H)
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Acknowledgements
This document was prepared under Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contract
number 68-CO-0083, work assignment 58 for the Office of Water, Ground Water Protection
Division. Harriet T. Colbert was responsible for developing, coordinating, and managing this
project with assistance provided by Robin Heisler and Chuck Job.
Special thanks to the EPA Ground Water Cluster Workgroup and other staff at
Headquarters, in the Regions, and in the Laboratories for assisting in the development of this
Roadmap by identifying contacts or providing information. Appendix C lists all EPA staff who
assisted in this effort.
Page i
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ES-1
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Background 1
1.1.1 The MSDE 2
1.2 Methodology 3
1.3 Purpose and Organization of Report 4
SECTION 2; DATA ANALYSIS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR
COORDINATION 5
2.1 General Findings 5
2.2 Identified Barriers and Opportunities for Improved
Coordination 14
2.2.1 Other EPA Information Sources 15
SECTION 3: DATA SYSTEM SUMMARIES 19
Office of Water 21
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water
Biennial State Water Quality Reports 23
The Federal Reporting Data System (FRDS-II) 27
Sole Source Aquifer Designation and Post-Designation Files 31
Well Activities Tracking, Evaluation, and Reporting System
(WATERS) 35
State Wellhead Protection Delineation Component
Data Base (WPD) 37
Page Hi
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Table of Contents (continued)
Page
State Wellhead Protection Program Summaries 41
Office of Science and Technology
Effluent Guidelines Studies (EGS) 43
Environmental Monitoring Methods Index (EMMI) 45
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds
Grants Reporting and Tracking System (GRTS) 47
STOrage and RETrieval of Water Quality Date (STORET) 51
Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances 55
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
Graphical Exposure Modeling Systems (GEMS) 57
Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) 61
Office of Pesticide Programs
Ground Water Monitoring Studies 63
National Survey of Pesticides in Drinking Water Wells (NPS) 65
Pesticide Information Network (PIN)/Pesticides in Ground Water
Data Base (PGWD) 69
Pesticide State Management Plans (SMPs) 73
Office of Research and Development 77
Office of Environmental Engineering and Technology Demonstration
Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluations (SITE) 79
Page iv
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Table of Contents (continued)
Page
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response 81
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation,
and Liability System (CERCLIS) 83
Office of Solid Waste
Ground Water Information Tracking System with STATistical
Analysis Capability (GRITS-STAT) 85
Hazardous Waste Delisting Petitions 89
Hazardous Waste No Migration Petitions 91
Resource Conservation and Recovery Information System
(RCRIS) 93
ROD Information Directory (RIDs) 95
Special Waste Management Reports to Congress 97
Office of Waste Programs Enforcement
3-DB 99
SECTION 4: MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS MATRICES 101
APPENDICES
Appendix A: Definitions for the Minimum Set of Data Elements for
Ground Water Quality A-l
Appendix B: Data Systems and Program Offices B-l
Appendix C: Program Representatives (Contacts) C-l
Appendix D: List of Acronyms Used •. • D-l
Page v
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List of Exhibits
EXHIBIT Page
1 The Minimum Set of Data Elements for Ground Water Quality . . . . ; 2
2 Profiled Program Areas 3
3 Summary of EPA Systems Containing Ground Water Data 6
4 Office of Water Systems Organization Chart 21
5 Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxics Substances Systems
Organization Chart 55
6 Office of Research and Development Systems Organization Chart .... 77
7 Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response Systems
Organization Chart 81
Page vi
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Executive Summary
EPA has issued its ground water policy, Protecting the Nation's Ground Water: EPA's
Strategy for the 1990 's, and is now implementing this policy.1 The overall goal of the Ground
Water Strategy is to "prevent adverse effects to human health and the environment, and to
protect the environmental integrity of the nation's ground water resources." Through its
implementation of the Ground Water Strategy, the Agency has identified a critical need to
improve the management of ground water information.
The EPA Ground Water Regulatory Cluster Workgroup is responsible for creating a
process for implementing the Agency's Ground Water Protection Principles as outlined in the
Ground Water Strategy. The Workgroup is tasked with examining programs and identifying
opportunities for improvement or coordination. This is achieved through the review of
regulations, guidance, and policies. This Ground Water Information Systems Roadmap
(Roadmap) was created to assist the Workgroup in achieving its goals and to assist EPA, other
Federal agencies and States to identify sources of ground water data which will in turn support
effective environmental decision-making.
In addition, EPA's Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW), in
conjunction with numerous State and Federal officials, has developed two intertwined efforts:
the Comprehensive State Ground Water Protection Program (CSGWPP)2 and the Minimum Set
of Data Elements for Ground Water Quality (MSDE).3 Generally, CSGWPP coordinates and
focuses ground water protection efforts across Federal, State, and local programs. The data
management component of CSGWPPs stress coordinating information collection and
management to measure progress, re-evaluate priorities, and support all ground water-related
programs. The MSDE, a key information management component of CSGWPPs, is the
"minimum number of data elements necessary to use ground water quality data. . . . across
related programs." The MSDE supports CSGWPP aims of information collection and
management and cross program coordination goals.
Therefore, the purpose of this Ground Water Information Systems Roadmap is to identify
EPA ground water data and highlight MSDE use and potential cooperative opportunities to link
data elements among different program systems. Specifically, EPA hopes that this document
will:
4 Help EPA and States to increase ground water information sharing. This Roadmap
identifies data systems containing ground water data and discusses opportunities for
' U.S. EPA, Office of the Administrator, Protecting the Nation's Ground Water: EPA's Strategy for the
1990s, 21Z-1020, July 1991.
2 U.S. EPA, Office of The Administrator, Final Comprehensive State Ground Water Protection Program
Guidance, EPA 100-R-93-001, December 1992.
3 U.S. EPA, Office of Water, EPA Policy Order - Minimum Set of Data Elements For Ground Water
Quality, 7500.1 A, October 1992.
Page ES-1
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improved coordination, based on interviews with EPA Headquarters and Regional staff.
In addition, by identifying the current usage of the MSDE, EPA hopes to further promote
its use and foster coordination among programs implementing the MSDE.
4 Help States implement CSGWPP information management activities. By identifying
appropriate data sources and areas for program coordination, this Roadmap serves as a
tool for programs to more effectively set priorities and develop consistent regulations,
policies, and guidance to help implement CSGWPPs.
4 Promote more efficient access, use, and storage of information. The Roadmap
identifies information systems with ground water data and provides detailed information
on the content of these systems and how they can be accessed and used.
Ultimately, this Roadmap will assist EPA, other Federal agencies, and the States in identifying,
developing, improving and sharing ground water information.
Page ES-2
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1. INTRODUCTION
Various EPA programs collect ground water data to support their specific program
objectives. This report describes these EPA information collection activities and the EPA
Headquarters, Regional and Laboratory electronic data systems and hard copy filing systems that
contain ground water data. It also identifies the types of ground water data contained within the
systems and the extent to which they conform to EPA?s Minimum Set of Data Elements for
Ground Water Quality (MSDE) described below. It is important to keep in mind while reading
this document that its primary purpose is to highlight opportunities for ground water information
coordination, sharing, and exchange among EPA programs and systems. In addition, this
document will help promote information exchange and coordination among other Federal
agencies and the States by highlighting the key ground water components within each system.
1.1 Background
EPA has issued its ground water policy, Protecting the Nation's Ground Water: EPA's
Strategy for the 1990's (hereafter referred to as the Ground Water Strategy), and is now
implementing this policy.4 Under the Ground Water Strategy, the "overall goal of EPA's
Ground Water policy is to prevent adverse effects to human health and the environment, and to
protect the environmental integrity of the nation's ground water resources." The Ground Water
Strategy references an earlier report, Data Management Subcommittee Report to the Ground
Water Task Force: Ground Water Data Collection, Accessibility, and Utilization, which
recommends a comprehensive approach to managing ground water data.5 Generally, the
Subcommittee Report articulates the need for integrating and improving the management and use
of ground water data across programs, and stresses the need for:
4 Improving data consistency among the ground water data collected by
EPA, States, and others through measures such as the MSDE and
requiring or strongly suggesting consistent data collection and reporting
formats;
4 Ensuring consistent data quality through established data quality
objectives and detailed technical procedures for quality assurance and
quality control;
4 Improving accessibility to data collected at a Federal, State, and local
level through automation; and
* Utilizing existing data for broader purposes than implementing programs,
such as establishing Agency goals, planning programs, and assessing
overall environmental quality by using such tools as environmental
indicators.
4 U.S. EPA, Protecting the Nation's Ground Water: EPA's Strategy for the 1990s, EPA/21Z-1020, July
1991.
5 U.S. EPA, October 25, 1990.
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The development of the MSDE, as discussed in
the section below, represents a step in achieving
the ground water protection goals and principles
for data management outlined in the Agency's
Ground Water Strategy.
1.1.1 The MSDE
By implementing the Strategy, the Agency
has identified a critical need to improve the
management of ground water information. The
Strategy recommended standardizing the types and
quality of ground water data collected, and
improving the accessibility, accuracy, and
consistency of these data. To facilitate this effort,
EPA's Office of Ground Water and Drinking
Water (OGWDW), in conjunction with other EPA
Programs, other Federal agencies, and the States,
developed the Minimum^ Set of Data Elements For
Ground Water Quality (MSDE).
The MSDE is the "minimum number of
data elements necessary to use ground water
quality data . . . across related programs." It is
a set of 21 ground water quality-related data
elements that contain general, geographic, well,
and sample descriptors. Exhibit 1 lists these 21
elements. Appendix A of this report defines these
elements. EPA Order 7500.1 A requires that all
EPA staff and EPA contractors use the MSDE for
all ground water data collection activities,
including research and development and
enforcement.6 In addition, EPA strongly
encourages all organizations that collect ground
water quality data to use the MSDE.
Exhibit 1
MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS
FOR GROUND WATER QUALITY
General Descriptors
1. Data Sources
Geographic Descriptors
2. Latitude
3. Longitude
4. Method Used to Determine Latitude
and Longitude
5. Description of Entity
6. Accuracy of Latitude and Longitude
Measurement
7. Altitude
8. Method Used to Determine Altitude
9. State FIPS Code
10. County FIPS Code
Well Descriptors
11. Well Identifier
12. Well Use
13. Type of Log
14. Depth of Well at Completion
15. Screened/Open Interval
Sample Descriptors
16. Sample Identifier
17. Depth to Water
18. Constituent or Parameter Measured
19. Concentration/Value
20. Analytical Results Qualifier
21. Quality Assurance Indicator
The MSDE is a key component to EPA's Comprehensive State Ground Water Protection
Programs (CSGWPPs). The goal of the CSGWPP approach is to coordinate and focus ground
water protection efforts across all Federal, State, and local programs based on the State's
understanding and decisions regarding the relative use, value, and vulnerability of its ground
water resources, including the relative threat of all potential contaminant sources. One strategic
activity under this approach is coordinating information collection and management to measure
6 U.S. EPA, October 1992. See also Definitions for the Minimum Set of Data Elements for Ground Water
Quality, U.S. EPA, EPA 813/B-92-002, July 1992.
Page 2
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progress, re-evaluate priorities, and support all ground water-related programs. The adequacy
criteria for this strategic activity specify that States define a sufficient set of data elements to
facilitate efficient data sharing and strongly encourage States to use the MSDE.7 In addition,
implementing the MSDE will help EPA and States to identify ground water priorities through
more efficient tracking of information to characterize the ground water quality.
1.2 Methodology
Information for this report was compiled
from interviews with over 76 individuals in
program areas at EPA Headquarters, Regions, and
research laboratories. A list of ground water-
related program areas was developed based on
suggestions from members of the Ground Water
Regulatory Cluster Workgroup. Appropriate
individuals from each program area (hereafter
called Program Representatives) were identified at
EPA Headquarters, Regions, and research
laboratories. Exhibit 2 lists the program areas
profiled in this report. In addition, several
representatives, initially identified as contacts for
potential sources of data, confirmed that their
program office did not routinely collect or compile
ground water data in an electronic data base or
centralized hard copy file. Therefore, the
following program areas were not included in this
report: High-Level Radioactive Waste, Low-
Level . Radioactive Waste, National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program,
Sewage Sludge, Stormwater, Underground Storage
Tanks, Uranium Mill Tailings, and Wetlands.
Using a standard protocol, contacts were
interviewed to identify the following types of
information about data systems used to maintain
ground water data:
4 Reporting requirements or
data sources for the
program area;
Exhibit 2
PROFILED PROGRAM AREAS
Office of Water
> Biennial Water Quality Reports
* Nonpoint Source
*• Public Water Systems
> Sole Source Aquifers
> Underground Injection Control
> Wellhead Protection
Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic
Substances
*• Pesticides and Ground Water
> TSCA Product Controls
»• TSCA PCB Wastes
>• Toxic Release Inventory
Office of Research and Development
* Superfund Innovative Technology
Evaluations
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response
> Hazardous Waste: Delisting
*• Hazardous Waste: No Migration
t- Hazardous Waste: TSDFs
*• Special Wastes
> Superfund: Remedial Program
* Superfund: Removal Program
*• Superfund: Reportable Releases
7 U.S. EPA, Final Comprehensive State Ground Water Protection Program Guidance, EPA 100-R-93-001,
December 1992.
Page 3
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^ Scope of the data in the system (e.g., geographic coverage, number of
wells or sites, sampling data available);
4 Quality of data (e.g., quality assurance/control procedures, frequency of
updates); and
4 System users and access procedures.
Program Representatives also were asked to identify barriers and opportunities for coordination
among different program areas and data systems.
1.3 Purpose and Organization of Report
The Ground Water Cluster Workgroup is responsible for creating a process for
implementing the Agency's Ground Water Protection Principles as mentioned in the Ground
Water Strategy. The Workgroup is tasked with examining programs and identifying
opportunities for improvement or coordination by reviewing regulations, guidance, and policies.
This Ground Water Information Systems Roadmap was created to assist the Workgroup in
achieving its goals and to assist EPA, other Federal agencies and States in identifing sources of
ground water data to support effective environmental decision-making.
In addition to the Introduction, this report consists of three additional sections.
+ Section 2 - DATA ANALYSIS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR
COORDINATION - discusses findings about the types of data collected
and the potential opportunities for coordination and in information
management among programs.
j>
+ Section 3 - DATA SYSTEM SUMMARIES - includes a system summary
for each data system identified. For each system, the summary contains
the following sections:
• System Overview,
• Reporting Requirements and Other Data Sources,
• MSDE Coverage,
• Data Limitations,
• Procedures for System Use and Access, and
• Key Background Documents.
^ Section 4 - MSDE MATRICES - summarizes the coverage and format
of the MSDE data elements in each data system.
This report also includes four appendices: Appendix A defines the MSDE, Appendix B contains
an alphabetical index to program areas and data systems, Appendix C lists all EPA contacts
interviewed for this project, and Appendix D defines all acronyms used in the document.
Page 4
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2. DATA ANALYSIS AND
OPPORTUNITIES FOR COORDINATION
This section discusses general findings on data collections in various programs and
identifies opportunities for coordination based on interviews with Program Representatives.
2.1 General Findings
Program Representatives in four offices at the Assistant Administrator level and related
Regional programs were interviewed: Office of Water (OW), Office of Prevention, Pesticides
and Toxic Substances (OPPTS), Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER), and
Office of Research and Development (ORD) and associated laboratories. Program
Representativess identified 25 data systems that contain varying degrees of ground water data.
Exhibit 3 summarizes the general findings. The exhibit and the remainder of this section
are divided into the following categories:
$ Scope of the systems,
4 Extent to which the systems address the MSDE,
$ Data sources,
4 Type of ground water information in the systems, and
^ Type of system.
Scope of Data Systems
All of these systems are national in scope, that is, they are administered or developed for
national use and contain data for areas within the 50 States and territories. In many .cases, EPA
offices collect summary data for programs that are primarily administered by the States. For
the most part, Regions did not collect ground water data, particularly for programs administered
by States. Programs in OW and OSWER generally provide support to the States for Clean
Water Act (CWA), Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act (RCRA), and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
(CERCLA) program oversight and policy development.. The programs do not maintain detailed
ground water information, which is most often collected and maintained by individual States.
OPPTS tended to collect and maintain more detailed data concerning ground water contamination
by chemical, because OPPTS, unlike OW and OSWER, is responsible for the implementation
of two consumer product-oriented statutes, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Most ORD programs indicated
that they have project-specific data, but not comprehensive data sets. However, we have
profiled one ORD system, Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluations (SITE), that
demonstrates ground water remediation technologies at a broad range of sites.
Page 5
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Coverage of MSDE Elements
The data systems reviewed in this report incorporate the MSDE in varying degrees, with
ranging from one to 21 data elements. The systems "potentially" contain these elements
because, in many cases, information is voluntarily submitted and the EPA offices do not require
a specific level of detail or format for submissions. As of August 1993, no EPA program with
a data system requires States or the regulated community to report all of the MSDE or to use
the formats recommended in the MSDE. Therefore, the inclusion of the elements and the format
reported vary considerably, even within some systems. Four systems, however, have been
designed or are currently undergoing revisions to explicitly include the entire MSDE: the Office
of Water's Storage and Retrieval System (STORET), and the Office of Water's Safe Drinking
Water Information System (SDWIS) which will be the modernized version of the current Federal
Reporting Data System (FRDS-II), the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxic's Pesticide
Information Network (PIN), and the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response's Ground
Water Information Tracking System with Statistical Analysis Capability (GRITS-STAT). The
proposed rule for State Management Plans (SMP) encourage States to submit all of the MSDE
or a similar data set.8 In addition, the WATERS data base has data fields for 19 of the 21
MSDE. The Sole Source Aquifer program suggests a minimum set of data elements for ground
water quality that contains 16 of the elements in the MSDE but applicants will likely submit all
21.
Overall, most of the data systems summarized in this report contain data for some of the
MSDE.9 Six systems potentially contain between five and 10 of the elements in the MSDE.
The information usually addresses data sources, description of entity, location, well identifiers,
sample identifiers, constituent measured, and concentration or value. All but four systems
contain at least two of the data elements. The data elements most frequently found are
"constituent or parameter measured" and "concentration/value." Systems containing summary
data on permit compliance, enforcement, and releases to the environment usually include these
data. The elements, however, are not always linked to a specific well or site. Coverage of
specific data elements is discussed in detail in Sections 3 and 4.
Data Sources
Twelve of the data systems contain ground water information that States or the regulated
community are required to report. As noted earlier, no program requires use of the MSDE in
its reporting requirements. Reporting requirements that supply data for the systems include
Biennial State Water Quality reports, monitoring information required in RCRA and UIC facility
permits, Superfund compliance, or data from studies required in support of a petition for sole
8 EPA expects to promulgate the final SMP rule in Winter 1995.
9 This report includes four systems with none of the MSDE: EMMI, CRTS, WPD, and State Wellhead
Protection Program Summaries. EMMI does not contain site-specific ground water data but does identify
numerous sampling and monitoring techniques. CRTS was included because it identifies State ground water
projects. The two Wellhead Protection systems contain information on State resource protection programs and
potential sources of ground water information.
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source aquifers or pesticide registration. Petitions for variances from regulation, registration of
a chemical, or classification as a sole source aquifer often include one-time studies or
demonstration projects, rather than ongoing monitoring efforts. Other data sources include
States, other Federal agencies, and private organizations (e.g., universities, trade organizations).
These parties often voluntarily submit independent research results to EPA for inclusion in data
systems where applicable.
Types of Ground Water Information
Ground water data maintained in the information collection (systems) described in this
Roadmap generally cover a range of qualitative, sampling and monitoring, and hydrogeologic
information. The data range from location and sampling data from approximately 335,000 sites
conducting ground water monitoring (STORET) to compliance and permit-specific data available
from three systems (FRDS-II, RCRIS, and WATERS). FRDS-II contains sampling data for over
200,000 public water systems. RCRIS contains notification, permit, compliance, and corrective
action data for treatment, storage and disposal facilities. WATERS contains a sampling
information data element for Class II underground injection wells.
Twenty-three of the 25 systems contain ground water sampling or monitoring data.
OSWER programs generally require ground water monitoring to identify or remove a source of
ground water contamination and prevent the introduction of hazardous constituents or petroleum
products in ground water. With the exception of data contained in the Hazardous Waste
Delisting and No Migration Petitions data bases, the OSWER systems contain sampling or
monitoring reports, often in summary form (e.g., number of contaminations, constituents
detected, and concentrations). Similarly, the ORD system, SITE, contains some sampling and
hydrogeological data in support of technology demonstrations.
OPPTS maintains data systems that contain detailed qualitative, sampling and monitoring,
and hydrogeologic information from comprehensive studies. For example, the National Survey
of Pesticides in Drinking Water Wells (NPS) includes sampling and hydrogeologic information
for over 1,300 wells; however, the NPS sampling survey was targeted to a specific set of
pesticides and analytes. OPPTS data generally cover physical and chemical properties, chemical
fate, chemical release into the environment, and ground water monitoring information.
The remainder of the systems contain varying degrees of qualitative ground water data
and hydrogeologic information. Sole Source Aquifer files and Biennial State Water Quality
Reports contain a general overview of ground water quality, supplemented by varying levels of
detail for sampling, monitoring and reporting hydrogeological data. A hydrogeological reporting
system was developed to support Sole Source Aquifer (SSA) Designation determinations and
annual summary reporting of Post-Designation project reviews. Another report program contains
water quality information regarding important aquifer areas within States and Territo'ries. The
Biennial State Water Quality Reports contain general water quality information regarding
important aquifer areas within States and Territories.
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r
System Types and Access
Thirteen systems are available electronically, either online (mainframe computers) or on
diskette (for personal computer use). Twelve data systems consist of hard copy files or reports.
Two of the 25 systems are available in both electronic and hard copy form. Section 3 contains
access information for each system. Non-confidential business information in the systems is
generally available to users through three sources:
(1) The EPA Mainframe Computing System. Access to EPA's mainframe
computing resources is through the EPA National Computer Center
(NCC). Prospective users must first obtain an EPA user identification.
This ID can be obtained by submitting a request to the appropriate EPA
Account Manager or ADP Coordinator. Upon approval of the request,
EPA will send the user an ID, a password, and user information.
(2) The National Technical Information Service (NTIS). Many data
systems and associated publications may be ordered from NTIS at 5285
Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161, (703) 487-4807. NTIS will also
provide services in obtaining clearance from the data base managers,
obtain an ID for users, and bill users for computer services provided by
EPA's NCC.
(3) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request. Users may submit
written requests for data to: FOIA Officer, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, A-101, 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C.
20460, (202) 260-4048. EPA will charge users the direct cost of any
searching, reviewing, and reproduction required to respond to the request.
2.2 Identified Barriers and Opportunities for Improved Coordination
While most persons interviewed for this report use a few Agency-wide systems, such as
STORET and FRDS-II, they also cited existing barriers to information sharing and related
coordination among programs. The following text summarizes the chief barriers and
opportunities identified.
Barrier:
Opportunity:
Identifying sources of information. Many Program Representatives were
not aware of readily available ground water data collected or maintained
by other programs. In addition, they noted that some State programs were
not aware of data collected or available within EPA or even within their
own States.
Outreach or training efforts for EPA and State personnel could address
available automated and hard copy information resources. For example,
EPA could circulate lists of data systems and contacts internally and
externally. This barrier points to one of the primary reasons for
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developing this document. The Roadmap identifies valuable sources of
ground water information within EPA. Moreover, this document is
developed not only for use by EPA but as an information resource for
other Federal Agencies, States, and local governments.
2.2.1 In addition, other Agency information resources available to locate
ground water data include the following:
»• Office of Water Environmental and Program Information Systems
Compendium.10 This compendium profiles 20 key Office of Water
(OW) information systems (both electronic and hard copy). Also included
are nearly 100 other OW environmental and program information systems
and 35 water-related systems from other EPA programs as well as other
Federal, State, and private agencies. The compendium contains
information on systems for all water resource areas — ground water,
drinking water, coastal and marine water, rivers and streams, lakes, and
Wetlands. The scope of the document is considerably broader than this
Information Systems Roadmap, although they contain similar information.
For each of the 20 major systems profiled, the compendium describes the
system, information in the system, data sources, and access procedures.
> Facility Index System (FINDS).11 FINDS is an online or magnetic tape
inventory of major information systems on facilities regulated and tracked
by EPA programs. It references program systems that contain detailed
data on each regulated facility. FINDS contains the following data
elements for facilities: facility name, address, EPA Facility ID code,
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code, Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS)
number, applicable regulatory program, program system ID, Indian Land
indicator, and Federal facility indicator. FINDS references the following
systems, which contain ground water information: CERCLIS, RCRIS,
and TRI.
> Information Systems Inventory (ISI).12 ISI, available in both hard
copy and diskette, is a data base with information on approximately 500
EPA automated systems. For each system, ISI contains the following:
system name and acronym, organization responsible for maintenance,
10 U.S. EPA, Office of Water, 800-B92-001, April 1992.
11 FINDS, U.S. EPA, Office of Information Resources Management. The system is updated continuously
and may be accessed through the EPA mainframe or NTIS. For more information, contact Dan Parker, Office
of Information Resources Management, (703) 557-2985.
12 U.S. EPA, Office of Information and Resources Management, PB91-172940 (hard copy), PB91-507558
(diskette), PB91-172957 (Users Guide). This system is currently being updated. For more information, contact
the ISI System Manager at (202) 260-8974.
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Barrier:
Opportunity:
contact address and phone number, legislative authority for information
collected, purpose and source of data, system classification, user access,
hardware and software used, and a system abstract and keywords. Users
can search the system according to keywords to identify useful data bases.
Information Resources Directory.13 This directory identifies the major
information resources (e.g., program contacts, data systems, newsletters)
at EPA and some other organizations. For each system, the directory
identifies computer hardware and software used, keywords identifying
content of the system, contact and phone number for the individual
responsible for the system, and a brief abstract describing the system's
contents. The directory also identifies EPA contact persons for major
program areas and information centers, among other entries.
Access EPA.14 Access EPA is a directory of EPA and other public
sector environmental information resources. Major EPA Environmental
Data Bases is a chapter of the document that identifies automated EPA
data bases with national environmental program information. For each
system, the document identifies the system purpose, types of data
available, how to access the data, and user assistance.
Varied focus of data collection. EPA programs operate under different
regulations and statutory mandates, and each has a different focus.
Therefore, the information for one program has been collected for specific
purposes and has limited utility to other programs. In addition, facilities
may be asked to provide different programs with essentially the same
types of information, although in slightly different formats or contexts.
For example, one contact noted that some information the program
collects may be accessible under a major system, however, identifying the
location and type of data can be more difficult than simply requesting it
from the individual facility (the State, water facility, etc.).
Use of the MSDE provides an important opportunity to coordinate and
focus ground water protection efforts across Federal, State, and local
programs, a goal also promoted by the Comprehensive State Ground
Water Protection Program (CSGWPP) approach. By collecting the same
set of data elements that have established definitions, programs utilizing
ground water data can easily share important ground water quality
information. Such data consistency facilitates effective and efficient
information exchange within and among Federal, State, and local
programs. In addition, it could help avoid duplicate reporting for facilities.
13 Information Resources Directory, U.S. EPA, OPA 003-89, March 1989.
14 Access EPA, U.S. EPA, Office of Information Resources Management,
EPA/220-B-92-014, 1992.
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Barrier:
Opportunity:
Barrier:
Opportunity:
Difficulty linking data in different systems. Some systems contain similar
information, however, matching; these data is difficult because of a lack
of common identifiers or naming conventions for locations, wells or other
elements.
Incorporating the MSDE into data systems will help to link different
sources of data. Several MSDE elements support this aim, particularly
Data Sources, Latitude, Longitude, and all of the Well and Sample
Identifiers. Data Sources for each of the elements can help verify data
submitted in different contexts for a given well or location. Using the
standardized Latitude and Longitude elements to geographically reference
wells or other entities could eliminate confusion about exact location.
Unique identifiers, assigned under the Data Source, for wells and samples
taken, if consistently used, could facilitate linking sample information
among systems.
Lack of specific location data, Locational information is crucial to
resource-protection planning, but is often unavailable. For example, one
Region has delineated its important watersheds and public water supplies
on maps, but has been unable to target likely sources of contamination
(e.g., industrial facilities) because the major automated systems for
industrial facilities (e.g., RCRIS) do not contain specific location
coordinates.
EPA Order 7500.1A requires that all EPA staff and EPA contractors use
the MSDE for all applicable ground water data collection activities. The
MSDE requires location referencing (latitude, longitude and altitude) for
any ground water information collected. States and the regulated
community are encouraged to collect and incorporate this information in
newly designed systems. Existing data systems can also accommodate this
policy by creating fields for locational data elements in the specified
format, and strongly encouraging voluntary submitters to include this
information in the desired format.
In addition, EPA has issued a Locational Data Policy (LDP).15 This
policy establishes the principles for collecting and documenting latitude
and longitude coordinates for facilities, other sites, and monitoring and
observation points regulated or tracked under Federal environmental
programs within EPA's jurisdiction. The policy directs that latitude and
longitude (lat/long) coordinates be collected and documented with
environment related data. The format for latitude and longitude specified
by the MSDE policy is identical to that specified by the LDP. In
15 Information Resources Management Policy Manual-Locational Data, U.S. EPA, Office of Information
Resources Management, April 8, 1991.
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Barrier:
Opportunity:
Barrier:
Opportunity:
Conclusions
addition, as required by the Locational Data Policy, the MSDE policy
requires the reporting of the method used to determine the lat/long, the
description of the entity, and the estimate of accuracy of the lat/long
measurement. The intent of such "meta-data" is to help provide quality
assurance, expand environmental analyses capability, and allow data to be
integrated based upon location, thereby promoting the enhanced use of
EPA's data resources for cross-media environmental analyses and
management decisions.
Perception of system inaccessibility. Some users perceive that some of the
large, online systems are not "user friendly" because of complicated
procedures for accessing the system and using the software, or high
demand for time on the EPA mainframe.
This concern could be addressed in two ways. First, Regions suggested
outreach to potential users to explain what information is available in the
system, and to demonstrate how to use large systems such as STORET.
STORET training is available to all EPA employees free of charge.
STORET user support also provides training free of charge to the States
upon receiving advance notice. Secondly, some systems may be more
accessible if available on PC-based software. For example, the GRITS-
STAT software "works very well because it is a set of diskettes - it is
portable and easily accessed by users."
Difficulty in accessing hard copy systems. Many of the data sources
identified in this Roadmap are available only in hard copy. Often,
valuable data are available in program files, yet they are difficult to access
and/or manipulate. For example, the Sole Source Aquifer program
maintains detailed information on aquifers in Regional files, however,
accessing the information may require sorting through voluminous, hard
copy files.
This barrier could be addressed by examining which systems could be
made available electronically. Another option/opportunity might be an
online catalog to identify information available in the program's hard copy
files. In some cases, it might also be possible to modify an existing data
base (such as RCRIS or CERCLIS) to incorporate program hard copy
files, which contain more detailed information.
Those interviewed for this report identified a need for increased communication and
coordination among and within programs. Addressing this need is consistent with the Agency's
Ground Water Strategy, as well as the comprehensive ground water protection approach called
for in Comprehensive State Ground Water Protection Programs. This document serves as
another step in support of this goal.
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3. DATA SYSTEM SUMMARIES
This section presents summaries of EPA systems that contain ground water data. The
summaries are organized by EPA Headquarters organizational structure at the Assistant
Administrator level (i.e., Office of Water [OW], Office Of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic
Substances [OPPTS], etc.). Within these Offices, the summaries are organized by program
offices (e.g, Office Of Ground Water and Drinking Water [OGWDW], within OW). An
organizational chart for each Assistant Administrator's Office is included before each set of
summaries for that Office. Only the Program Offices with systems included in this Roadmap
are shown on the organizational charts. Therefore, the organizational charts do not reflect
all the programs under each Assistant Administrator. In addition, Appendix B contains an
index to all data systems and offices included in this document.
Each summary is organized into the following seven sections:
4 Contact Information: lists general type of data collected, reporting
requirements (regulations or statutes), geographic coverage of the system,
system type, and contact name, office, and phone number.
4 System Overview: describes the scope of the overall data system. It
includes a general discussion of the type of ground water information
available from the system.
* Reporting Requirements and Other Data Sources: describes the
program's ground water reporting requirements. If reporting is not
required, it identifies who voluntarily submits data to the program and
how often the data are received.
4 Minimum Set of Data Elements Coverage: identifies which elements in
the MSDE are included in the system. In addition, it compares the format
of the included elements to the MSDE recommended format.
4 Data Limitations: identifies significant limitations to use of the data and
discusses the general quality of the data, when possible. It generally
identifies limitations in scope, updating, and geographical coverage.
4 System Use and Access: identifies system users, procedures to follow,
and equipment required to access the system.
4 Key Background Documents: lists relevant background documents, such
as users manuals and programmatic guidance on reporting requirements.
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Office of Water
Office of Science
and Technology
Effluent Guidelines Study
(EGS)
Environmental Monitoring
Methods Index (EMMI)
Office of Wetlands,
Oceans, and Watersheds
CWA Section 319 Grants
Reporting and Tracking
System (CRTS)
STOrage and RETrieval
of Water Quality Data
(STORE!)
Office of Ground Water
and Drinking Water
Biennial State Water
Quality Reports
Federal Reporting Data
System (FRDS-D)
Well Activities Tracking,
Evaluation, and Reporting
System (WATERS)
Sole Source Aquifer Files
State Wellhead Protection
Delineation Component
Data Base (WPD)
State Wellhead Protection
Program Summaries
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BIENNIAL STATE WATER QUALITY REPORTS
Data Collected:
Reporting Requirements:
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Contact:
Biennial State Water Quality Reports (Ground
Water Quality Chapters)
Clean Water Act Section 305(b)
National
Hard copy
Roger Anzzolin, Office of Water, Office of Ground
Water and Drinking Water, (202) 260-7282
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
The Ground Water Protection Division (GWPD) collects and maintains hard copies of
the Biennial State Water Quality Reports required by CWA Section 305(b). The Biennial
State Water Quality Report is a guidance that each State is required to answer and submit
every two years to EPA. The GWPD summarizes submitted information in a
comprehensive report, including a chapter on ground water quality.
States collect the required water quality assessment information covering one year by
using various approaches including physical, chemical, qualitative and quantitative
analysis. As example, some States survey fisheries biologists and analyzing land use data
as a means of determining the quality of water in the State. They submit information on
all aspects of ground water and surface water quality to EPA. In their reports, the States
address ground water by describing ground water protection programs, the sources of
ground water contamination identified in the State, the contaminants observed in the
State's ground water, public well closures, public well restrictions, and general ground
water information in their reports. The States also judge their ground water quality and
rank the severity of the identified sources of ground water contamination. In addition,
they report available data on salinity levels, bacteria concentrations, radioactivity levels,
and heavy metal concentrations in ground water.
The data are reported in a table shell format, although an electronic reporting format may
become available by 1996. Presently, several portions of the reports are entered into
Mac Excell spreadsheets for EPA use producing the "The National Water Quality
Inventory." The files and the spreadsheets containing data from the State submissions
are not available to the public.
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REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SOURCES
Section 106(e) of the Clean Water Act requires each State, Territory, and Interstate
Commission to develop a program to monitor the quality of its ground water resources
and report its status to Congress every two years in the State Section 305(b) reports. The
State agency responsible for the development or implementation of the State's ground
water protection strategy prepares the ground water portion of the report. States are
directed to use guidelines provided by EPA in the preparation of their 305(b) reports.
With respect to ground water resources, the reports generally address:
4 Major sources of ground water contamination;
4 Major contaminants that threaten ground water resources; and
4 Ground water quality based on information from public water
supply wells.
The report also summarizes the State's ground water protection programs, including
pending legislation, regulations, and standards, and initiatives such as ground water
monitoring, classification, and mapping programs.
MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS
Currently, the reports do not explicitly contain the MSDE. Many State reports,
however, may contain general information about the following constituents for which
testing or monitoring was conducted; nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic
compounds. Many States also report in summary form the number of ground water
samples taken and contaminants detected at RCRA and CERCLA facilities. A few States
submit information about maximum contaminant level violations with constituent-by-
constituent summaries. Thus, the summaries may contain two of the 21 MSDE: (1)
constituent or parameter measured, and (2) concentration or value. This information,
however, may not be linked to a specific well or location in the State. Data reporting
in accordance with MSDE guidelines will be incorporated into the 1996 Section 305(b)
reports. States will be asked to report this information for public water supply wells
where health-based limits have been exceeded for categories of ground water
contaminants. r;
DATA LIMITATIONS
Historically, the major limitations to using the Section 305(b) data set for ground water
have been lack of data consistency and lack of access. EPA is working with States to
improve aspects of reporting, such as format and data access. Forty-seven of the 57
States and territories that submitted Section 305(b) reports for 1990 completed the ground
water section of the survey. Not all States have the same level of detail of data for all
categories, making responses varied and comparisons difficult. For instance, some States
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may have performed detailed regional ground water quality assessments and others have
performed screening surveys only.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
Data are available only in summary form in the national biannually published report.
For example, the National Water Quality Inventory of 1990 includes two chapters on
ground water quality and protection. EPA is working with States to improve access to
the detailed data.
KEY DOCUMENTS
National Water Quality Inventory: 1990 Report to Congress, U.S. EPA, Office of
Water, April 1992. This document summarizes the Section 305(b) reports submitted by
States in 1990.
Guidelines for Preparation of the 1994 State Water Quality Assessments (305 (b)
Reports), U.S. EPA, Office of Water, EPA841-B-93-004, May 1993. This document
recommends data elements to be included in 305(b) reports.
National Water Quality Inventory: 1992 Report to Congress, U.S. EPA, Office of
Water, EPA 841-4-94-001, March 1994,.approx. 375 pages. This document summarizes
the Section 305(b) reports submitted by States in 1992.
The Quality of Our Nation's Water: 1992, U.S. EPA, Office of Water, EPA 841-S-94-
002, March 1994, 43 pages. This document is the executive summary of the full 1992
report to Congress.
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THE FEDERAL REPORTING DATA SYSTEM (FRDS-II)
Data Collected: Violation and enforcement data for public water
supplies
Reporting Requirements: Safe Drinking V/ater Act; 40 CFR Parts 141-143
Geographic Coverage: National
System Type: Online system
Headquarters Contact: Jeff Sexton, Office of Water, Office of Ground
Water and Drinking Water, (202) 260-7276
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
FRDS-II is a centralized data base containing approximately 12 million records of
information about the compliance of public water suppliers (PWSs) with monitoring
requirements, maximum contaminant level (MCL) regulations, and other requirements
of the Safe Drinking Water Act. All 10 EPA Regions use FRDS-II to track the
compliance of PWSs.
The system contains information about approximately 200,000 PWSs with both surface
water and ground water sources. The vast majority of PWSs (93 percent) are ground
water systems. All PWSs are included in FRDS-II, although specific water quality data
may not be available for all water sources. In general, ground water quality data are
available only if a violation of an established MCL has been identified. It is important
to note that nearly all sample data is from sampling conducted after treatment at the entry
point to the distribution system. FRDS-II is currently attempting to include more
information on source (i.e., ground water or surface water) and information on non-
violation sampling levels (e.g., lead and copper monitoring). Regions or States update
the system quarterly with new inventory information, violations, enforcement actions,
and, on occasion, variances and exemptions.
An updated version of FRDS-II is under development, and is expected to be interactive
with various EPA data systems, including FINDS, discussed in Section 2.2. The
modernized system will be known as the Safe Drinking Water Information System
(SDWIS). The new system is being designed to include more detailed analytical
information so that it will be more useful to both EPA Headquarters and the States. For
these reasons, the updated version may also be more useful to other EPA programs than
the current version of FRDS-II.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SOURCES
The States receive monitoring results from PWS system owners and operators and
transmit this information to FRDS-II quarterly.. In a few cases, the States collect and
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analyze compliance samples for public water samples for public water systems. Many
primacy States submit these data electronically directly to National Computing Center.
The remaining primacy States submit information on disk to their respective Region, and
the Regions upload this information to FRDS-II. For States that do not have primacy for
the PWS program, the Region collects and reports the information.
The States are required to submit general inventory information on each system (e.g.,
ID number, type of system, system name, population served), as well as, information
identifying at least one public water source within the system. All violations of the Safe
Drinking Water Act must be reported using a violation number, the date of compliance
period, and the contaminant code. Information on the value of the MCL and the value
of the contaminant level may be reported, but are not required. The States are
encouraged to enter information on enforcement actions taken, and most States are now
providing this information. The States have the option to report a wide variety of
information describing the water supply system including the schedules for variances and
exemptions, the date and reason for site visits, the percent of sources within the system
that are ground water, and location information for each water source. FRDS-II also
contains a field for discretionary State data, which can be used to explain other data
entries.
MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
Although the MSDE are not explicitly incorporated in this system, States are required
to report general information on the system and at least one source within the system
(i.e., ground water): This information typically includes location. Latitude and
longitude is specified for the system and may be included for the source. A description
of the entity may also be included. The system also identifies PWS according to FIPS
county code. Information on violations of MCLs must be reported. The system also
contains fields for the following sample information: sample ID and constituent or
parameter. Thus, FRDS-II may contain seven of the 21 MSDE, although the reporting
of the elements is not required. The modernized system, SDWIS, will contain all of the
MSDE.
DATA LIMITATIONS
The primacy States and EPA Regions for non-primacy States have primary responsibility
for the quality of the data in FRDS-II. The Regions generally encourage the States to
perform quality assurance procedures, especially Regions V and X. The use of FRDS-II
for grant funding determinations and significant non-complier actions allows States to
ensure the accuracy of their data.
The Regions perform lab certification and periodically perform extensive on-site audits.
The Regions also often perform spot checks on incoming data, review summary reports
from the FRDS-II system, and work with the States to resolve problems identified by
FRDS-II edit and validity checks.
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The data relating to violations and enforcement are generally reliable and accurate. The
inventory information that is provided on a voluntary basis is generally less accurate.
Most Regional audits have found data to be accurate.
In most cases, the ground water quality data in FRDS-II are limited to sources that have
exceeded existing MCLs. In other words, compliance is tracked on a violation basis not
a source basis. An exception is the collection of non-violation sampling data for 90th
percentile values of lead and copper collected at consumer taps in medium to large
systems.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
EPA Regions and Headquarters use the system to oversee State programs, make grant
determinations, and target enforcement activities. Other users include the States and
organizations interested in drinking water. FRDS-II is accessible via the EPA National
Computer Center (NCC). Prospective users must first obtain an EPA user identification.
The user ID can be obtained by submitting a request to the EPA contact listed above.
Upon approval of the request, the user will be sent an ID, a password, and user
information. Data requests for ASCII standard reports take approximately two days to
process. Currently, there are no system fees, although processing fees may be charged
for certain (e.g., large) jobs.
Approximately 220 Headquarters and Regional staff access FRDS-II on a regular basis
(at least once a week), and about 50 users access the system daily. All Regions and
several States have direct access to FRDS-II. States that do not have direct access submit
information and request reports through the Regions. EPA and State staff in the Public
Water Supply programs are the primary users of the system. While other individuals in
the Regions or States may have account numbers which allow access to FRDS-II, their
use of the system is limited. Their limited use may be caused by the complications
involved in generating reports using other than routine reporting formats.
EPA Headquarters and Regions request the largest number of reports from FRDS-II.
Regions primarily receive data requests from EPA program offices dealing with ground
water, water quality, Superfund, and RCRA. The States infrequently request reports.
The Regions indicated that most States maintain separate data systems with more detailed
analytical information. Because States'often have more detailed information, individuals
requesting data are sometimes referred to the appropriate State office. Public or private
agencies request information frequently. Many of these requestors use the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) process to place these requests.
KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
Federal Reporting Data System (FRDS-II) Data Element Dictionary, U.S. EPA, Office
of Water, EPA 812-B-93-003, January 1993. This dictionary describes each data element
in the system.
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Federal Reporting Data System (FRDS-U) Data Entry Instructions, U.S. EPA, Office of
Water, EPA 812-B-93-002, January 1993. This document provides instructions to
Regions and States entering information into the FRDS-II data base.
Federal Reporting Data System (FRDS-II) Interactive Retrieval User's Guide, U.S. EPA,
Office of Water, EPA 812-B-93-001, January 1993. This document provides background
information, on the FRDS-II system and instructions for online use.
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SOLE SOURCE AQUIFER DESIGNATION AND POST-DESIGNATION
FILES
Data Collected:
Reporting Requirements:
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Contact:
Hydrogeologic data for sole source aquifer
designation determination and post-designation
project reviews
Required under SDWA Section 1424(e)
National (selected areas)
Hard copy
Bill McCabe or Chuck Job, Office of Water,
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water,
(202) 260-2305 or 7077
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
The Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW) collects and maintains a
hard copy filing system of financial and project code data supporting Sole Source Aquifer
(SSA) Designation and Post-Designation reviews. Regions collect and maintain project-
specific data. The Sole Source Aquifer program, established under the Safe Drinking
Water Act Section 1424(e), allows individuals and organizations to petition EPA to
designate aquifers as the "sole or principal" source of drinking water for an area. No
Federal financial assistance within a designated area will be granted to projects that EPA
determines have the potential for contamination of the aquifer. EPA Regions conduct
both designation and post-designation reviews. The files for these reviews may contain
detailed hydrogeological information on the designated aquifers, which includes ground
water quality data and periodic testing results. In addition, these reviews contain
information on project design, siting criteria utilized, and potential impacts to ground
water quality.
As of July 1993, EPA had designated 60 SSAs nation-wide and was evaluating 12
petitions. EPA Region VII (Kansas City, KS) is the only Region that does not contain
a designated or pending SSA. Twenty-five States or territories contain designated
aquifers: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana,
Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New
Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas,
Virginia, and Washington. Seven States contain aquifers that are pending SSA reviews:
Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SOURCES
Headquarters receives and files summary information of the reviews, including maps,
consultants' hydrogeological reports, and various supporting memoranda, as well as
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quarterly status reports prepared by Regions on Federally-assisted projects within the
aquifer areas. The Regional files contain records of all petitions and detailed
documentation. The quarterly status reports generally contain summary information on
the numbers of projects reviewed and general information on potential threats to ground
water in those cases where modifications in projects have been required. Petitioners
generally must submit three types of data in support of SSA designations:
(1) Narrative description of aquifer, including general ground water
quality information, such as known incidents of contamination and
detected constituents.
(2) Data demonstrating that aquifer is a sole or principal source,
including a map of the aquifer service area and the locations and
descriptions of drinking and public water sources within area.
(3) Designated aquifer boundary information, including
hydrogeological data on the aquifer and its location, its recharge
area, the proposed designated area, and the project review area.
Ground water data elements include use of ground water,
descriptions and diagrams of the hydrology and hydrogeology, and
descriptions of discharge or ground water withdrawal from the
aquifer (e.g., wells, springs, streams).
Regions file half-yearly reports with Headquarters, which give post-designation review
results, including project type, actions required, Federal funds affected, review issues and
aquifer location.
MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
Headquarters does not maintain detailed SSA information. The Regions maintain all hard
copy files of petitions and supporting documentation. The summary information at
Headquarters usually contains general descriptors and geographic descriptors, although
not necessarily in the formats specified by the MSDE. For example, the maps specify
location to the county level and contain latitude and longitude for the aquifer area (rather
than well specific locations). Because a SSA may be a large geographical area, data
conforming to the MSDE is not generally available to describe its boundaries or location.
Often, discrete data contained in a petition is usually not generated solely for petition
purposes. However, the 1989 revised Petitioner Guidance recommends that petitioners
submit a minimum set of 22 data elements as part of any application. This minimum set
corresponds closely to the MSDE, although it does not recommend the following
numbered elements in the MSDE: (5) description of the entity (this is however,
necessarily included in the application), (6) accuracy of latitude and longitude, (8)
method used to determine altitude, (20) analytical results qualifier, and (21) quality
assurance indicator. The 12 pending applications would likely contain these data,
although the data included for the 60 previously designated aquifers likely vary in detail.
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DATA LIMITATIONS
The SSA program collects ground water data for a targeted subset, only 72 aquifers. As
necessary and available, Regions obtain supplemental information (e.g., from USGS
maps, historical information) to verify the accuracy of a petitioner's submittal. Regions
perform all reviews and maintain detailed files on each petitioned aquifer, while
Headquarters maintains summary information only.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
The data are used primarily by EPA offices for summary reports on the program. Other
parties use SSA summary information for a variety of purposes (e.g., Resolution Trust
Corporation real estate auction, actions regarding ground water quality questions,
construction evaluations). • Parties outside of EPA rarely use the data, although
information would be accessible via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). request.
Regions may conduct reviews in coordination with Federal, State, and local agencies, as
well as design engineers and consultants. SSA designation information and post-
designation information, such as SSA maps, program fact sheets, and other technical
support documents are available from Regional offices upon request.
KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
Designated Sole Source Aquifers Nationally, Fact Sheet with Designated Aquifers and
Pending Petitions, U.S. EPA, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, Quarterly.
This fact sheet summarizes the program and lists designated aquifers and pending
designation petitions.
Sole Source Aquifer Designation Decision Process: Petition Review Guidance, U.S. EPA,
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, February 1987. This document contains
instructions for Regions conducting designation petition reviews.
Sole Source Aquifer Designation: Petitioner Guidance, U.S. EPA, Office of Ground
Water and Drinking Water, February 1989. This document contains instructions and
information requirements for parties wishing to petition for sole source aquifer status.
Sole Source Aquifer Post-Designation Manual: Guidelines for Regional Offices Ground
Water Review of Proposed Projects Receiving Federal Assistance within Designated SSA
Areas, U.S. EPA, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, December 1989. This
document details step-by-step instructions for Regions conducting post-designation project
reviews.
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WELL ACTIVITIES TRACKING, EVALUATION, AND REPORTING
SYSTEM (WATERS)
Data Collected:
Reporting Requirements:
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Contact:
Underground Injection Control (UIC) well
permitting and compliance data
40 CFR Parts 144 and 146
National
Electronic data base
Roger Anzzolin, Office of Water, Office of Ground
Water and Drinking Water,
(202) 260-7282
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
The Well Activities Tracking, Evaluation, and Reporting System (WATERS) is a user
friendly, PC-based information management system designed by EPA's Underground
Injection Control (UIC) Branch for use in tracking injection well data. WATERS is a
voluntary tracking and program management system available to any State or Region
responsible for managing a UIC program. WATERS consists of six major system
folders, containing information on permits, inventory, inspections, mechanical integrity
tests, enforcement actions and compliance status, and operational characteristics. In
addition, WATERS can be used to generate various reports, including Federal reporting
forms. WATERS was initially developed to track class II (oil and gas activity) wells,
but can be adapted to include all classes of UIC wells and non-UIC wells.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SOURCES
The UIC program as a regulatory permit program, may require the owner or operator
of a well to collect and analyze ground water information. Sampling and monitoring of
wells may also be a permit-specific requirement. For example, if accurate information
on the total dissolved solids (TDS) level is not available, the State or Region would
require the owner or operator applying for the UIC permit to sample the ground water.
MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
WATERS has fields for all but two of the MSDE. For example, the data sources are
both the owner or operator of the permitted well and the permitting agency. If the
permit requires sampling, the permitting agency requires a sampling analysis plan, which
contains MSDE 16 through 21, although not necessarily in the required format.
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r
DATA LIMITATIONS
The UIC program relies on permit requirements to prevent the contamination of source
water supplies. Since the MSDE was designed for ground water monitoring, the MSDE
definitions apply to potential sources of drinking water while the UIC definitions and data
elements apply to terminology as it applies to a waste disposal system. WATERS
incorporates various internal validity and data checks to improve the quality
assurance/quality control (QA/QC) of WATERS. WATERS also contains hydrological
and geological data elements that are not included in the MSDE.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
WATERS' facilities can be modified by the user to add data elements. It also has a GIS
function which includes overlays for geographical analysis of source water protection
programs. WATERS runs on a 286 IBM or compatible PC, with 1 MB of free hard disk
space, 640K RAM with 500K free, extended keyboard, color monitor, DOS version 3.30
or better, and an HP Laser Jet II or compatible printer. WATERS software is available
to any State or Regional office that implements a UIC program. WATERS is network
compatible.
KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
WATERS Users Guide, U.S. EPA, Office of Water, October 1993. This manual explains
the purpose of WATERS, discusses its features and capabilities, and provides guidance
on using the system.
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STATE WELLHEAD PROTECTION DELINEATION COMPONENT
DATABASE (WPD)
Data Collected: State wellhead protection area delineation
components
Reporting Requirements: Voluntary
Geographic Coverage: National, includes States or Tribes with EPA
approved wellhead protection programs
System Type: PC software
Contact: Jane Marshall, Office of Water, Office of Ground
Water and Drinking Water,
(202) 260-8897
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
The Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW), Ground Water Protection
Division (GWPD), maintains the State Wellhead Protection Delineation Component
Database (WPD) to support the States and Tribes that do not have EPA approved
wellhead protection (WHP) programs. This electronic data base presents the approaches
employed by approved WHP programs to delineate wellhead protection areas (WHPAs).
States and Tribes that do not have approved plans are excluded from the data base.
The approaches to delineating WHP areas have the following components:
$ Aquifer type (confined, unconfined, fractured, etc.);
4 Delineation criteria (distance, drawdown, time of travel (TOT), flow
boundary, etc.);
$ Delineation thresholds (microbial, chemical, other) expressed in distance,
temporal, parameter, concentrations, or geographic units;
$ Delineation methods (arbitrary/calculated fixed radius, analytical models,
EPA WHPA model, and numerical models); and
$ Whether a hydrogeologic boundary defines the wellhead protection area.
The data base includes approaches and associated components for both existing wells and
new wells. In addition, the system provides information about legal incorporation of the
WHPA, case studies, and primary delineation agencies.
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REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SOURCES
There are no reporting requirements underlying this data base. EPA obtains the
information from the State wellhead protection program submissions. As new State
wellhead protection program submissions are approved or existing programs are
modified, Headquarters personnel update the data base.
MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
The system does not contain site-specific technical ground water information or any of
the 21 elements of the Minimum Set of Data Elements and was not intended to do so.
Instead, the WPD compiles delineation criteria, thresholds, and methods for given
hydrogeologic conditions within States.
DATA LIMITATIONS
The information is limited to delineation methods, thresholds, and criteria used under
given hydrogeologic conditions. For example, the data entry for New York State
identifies a variety of methods, thresholds, and criteria used under three different aquifer
types and two specific aquifers. The entry for New Mexico, on the other hand, lists one
set of methods, thresholds, and criteria for a "generic" aquifer type.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
The WPD system is- IBM PC and IBM PC LAN compatible using DBASE III with
Clipper Compiler as the software platform. The program is provided on high-density
diskettes and requires DOS version 2.1 or higher, 480K RAM memory and
approximately 1000K space on a hard drive. It is menu-driven and capable of generating
printed reports.
The data system is available to each EPA Regional office. Regional WHP programs
could make hard copy printouts available to State and Tribal WHP programs that are in
the development stage. The WPD has four levels of access when installed:
(0) No access (presumably for those who do not have the user passwords);
(1) Able to browse, query, print, and re-index;
(2) Able to perform all functions except for removing deleted records and
changing the list of users/passwords; and
(3) Access to all functions.
Copies of the diskette are available from Headquarters and the Regions.
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Note: As a result of foreign country, State, Tribal, and local interest in use of the data
base, another version of WPD has been developed and is available for input of
delineation approaches. This second version is available for local use, and does not
contain information about delineation approaches from State WHPPs.
KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
Guidelines For Delineation Of Wellhead Protection Areas, U.S. EPA, Office of Ground-
Water Protection, June 22, 1987. This document contains the technical and
administrative information necessary for States to develop wellhead protection programs
and identify wellhead protection areas.
Guidance For Applicants For State Wellhead Protection Program Assistance Funds Under
The Safe Drinking Water Act, U.S. EPA, Office of Ground- Water Protection, June 1987,
EPA 440/6-87-011. This manual instructs potential applicants on developing State WHP
programs and explains EPA's policies and procedures for implementing the assistance
program.
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STATE WELLHEAD PROTECTION PROGRAM SUMMARIES
Data Collected:
Reporting Requirements:
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Contact:
Description of State WHP Programs
Voluntary
National
Hard copy
Kevin McCormack, Office of Water, Office of
Ground Water and Drinking Water,
(202) 260-7772
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
The information repository is an eight section notebook summarizing the State wellhead
protection program submissions. Currently, 28 States have EPA-approved programs and
therefore are included in the notebook. As new States are approved, EPA adds them to
the notebook. The notebook resides in the Ground Water Protection Division (GWPD)
and consists of eight sections containing one to two page narratives of each, WHP
program element for each approved State. The eight essential elements of a State's WHP
are
$ Program Summary and. Purpose;
$ Roles and Duties of State Agencies: identifying roles, assigning duties,
and coordinating activities;
$ Wellhead Protection Area (WHPA) Delineation: choosing institutional
processes, choosing delineation criteria, and identifying phasing schedule;
$ Inventory of Source Contaminants with WHPAs: listing source categories,
developing source inventory, and modifying inventory;
4 Differential Management within WHPAs: management programs,
identifying uncontrolled sources, and specifying phasing criteria;
4 Contingency Planning for Drinking Water Supplies: defining "major"
water suppliers, contingency plan elements, and implementation;
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4 Siting of new wells: expanding/delineating new WHPA, siting new wells,
and managing sources; and
4 Public Participation.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SOURCES
The notebook is based on State submissions, which are required to include and address
the essential elements in their wellhead protection program. There are no other reporting
requirements underlying the notebook.
MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
The notebook does not contain information on any of the MSDE, as the MSDE are not
required for WHP program approval. However, the notebook will allow the reader to
identify States with wellhead protection programs and potential sources of ground water
information.
DATA LIMITATIONS
No ground water data are included.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
The notebook is designed to assist State and local ground water managers directly
involved with or responsible for developing WHP programs to develop or refine
individual essential elements of a WHP Program. The notebook system is accessible to
any interested party in hard copy by contacting OGWDW.
KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
Guidance For Applicants For State Wellhead Protection Program Assistance Funds Under
The Safe Drinking Water Act, U.S. EPA, Office of Ground-Water Protection, June 1987,
EPA 440/6-87-011. This manual provides instructions to potential applicants on
developing State WHP programs and explains EPA's policies and procedures for
implementing the assistance program.
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EFFLUENT GUIDELINES STUDIES (EGS)
Data Collected:
Reporting Requirements:
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Contact:
Industry specific wastewater and treatment data
None
National for targeted industries
Hard copy
Marion Thompson, Office of Water, Office of
Science and Technology, (202) 260-7117
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
The Effluent Guidelines Studies (EGS) are a hard copy collection of studies compiled to
support the development of technology-based effluent guidelines required under Title III
of the CWA. The Office of Science and Technology (OST) designed the guidelines to
control discharges into waterways resulting from industrial processes. The Office sets
regulations for both direct and indirect dischargers based on a determination of which
pollutants can be removed through treatment technologies. Ground water monitoring or
testing results and ground water quality data are sometimes included in survey
information collected in the development of the guidelines, particularly when treatment
technologies have the potential to effect ground water (e.g., underground injection
control). Since 1974, OST has developed regulations for 51 industries and is currently
developing regulations for an additional 9 industries.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SOURCES
There are no reporting requirements involved in the EGS. EPA collects data on a one-
time basis to support the development of a particular set of guidelines. EPA collects
information through questionnaires covering engineering and economic information on
individual facilities. Firms are required to respond to these survey requests. OW may
supplement questionnaire data by conducting sampling and analyses from wastewater
discharge points and collecting engineering and economic information. An EPA sample
control center manages all sample and analysis information, checking the information for
accuracy and consistency.
Ground water information is collected only when a site is using a waste treatment
technology that could directly affect ground water. Survey information generally
includes site manufacturing processes, water flow information, waste water generated,
and treatment technologies.
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MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
The EGS do not explicitly contain the MSDE. If ground water has been tested at an
industrial site, a facility should report summary testing information on the survey
response form. This information generally includes analytical data and methods used to
test. It may contain constituents detected and concentration, although not necessarily in
the format specified by the MSDE. Thus, the EGS may contain two of the 21 data
elements in the MSDE.
DATA LIMITATIONS
The EGS were conducted in support of a specific goal, effluent discharge regulation
development. Therefore, the data are not periodically updated and may be out of date.
Although the surveys contain some ground water information, their primary focus is on
waste water and its treatment on a site-specific basis. In addition, the surveys have been
conducted for a limited number of industries.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
These reports and the survey information collected to write them are available in hard
copy to EPA personnel cleared for confidential business information. Some questionnaire
information and sample and analysis information is maintained in data sets on the EPA
mainframe. Access to EPA's mainframe computing resources is through the EPA
National Computer Center (NCC). Prospective users must first obtain an EPA user
identification. The user ID can be obtained by submitting a request to the contact above.
Upon approval of the request, the user will be sent an ID, a password, and user
information.
KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
None.
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ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING METHODS INDEX (EMMI)
Data Collected:
Reporting Requirements:
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Contact:
Monitoring methods for compliance with statutes
None
Not applicable
Mainframe or diskettes
Marion Thompson, Office of Water, Office of
Science and Technology, (202) 260-7117
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
The Office of Science and Technology (OST) maintains EMMI, a computerized catalog
of information on environmentally significant chemical substances and analytes monitored
by EPA, methods for their analysis, and the regulatory and office-based lists on which
the chemicals and analytes appear. This system does not contain actual ground water
data, but does contain methods for ground water monitoring. EMMI, previously called
the List of Lists, was first developed in 1985 and was updated as of 1992. The system
is a PC-based, menu-driven system that features rapid text search and concurrent display
of key data elements. EMMI is indexed on eight key fields, and users may select from
a variety of search parameters to locate a specific group of analytes. The information
is used by EPA for the development of regulations or standards for compliance,
enforcement proceedings, and general research.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SotrRCES
The data have been submitted to OST by various EPA offices and other Federal, State,
and local agencies. The system contains approximately 900 analytical methods and
information on more than 2400 unique analytes that are identified on 40 lists of chemical
substances and analytes of concern under various environmental statutes or EPA
programs. These lists include substances regulated under all CWA, CAA, RCRA,
SDWA, and CERCLA regulatory programs.
Information tracked for each analyte includes its Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS)
number, names and synonyms, the regulatory and office-based lists the analyte appears
on, regulatory limits, and the analytical methods used to identify the substance. EMMI
specifies method detection limits by analyte. The EMMI data base associates each
detection limit value with the appropriate acronym and provides a detailed description of
each detection limit acronym.
Information tracked for each method includes the source submitting it, the
instrumentation needed, the organization submitting the method, and the detection limit,
as well as a short summary of the method.
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Information tracked for each list includes name of list, chemicals on the list, office
responsible, related laws, and the purpose of the list.
MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
This system does not contain the MSDE because it is simply a catalog of analytes,
methods, and regulatory or office-based lists of chemicals. This information includes
ground water related monitoring methods.
DATA LIMITATIONS
This system does not contain ground water data. Rather, it describes methods to monitor
for constituents in ground water.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
EMMI can be accessed in two ways: (1) through the EPA Mainframe Computing System,
and (2) through the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). Access to EPA's
mainframe computing resources is through the EPA National Computer Center (NCC).
Prospective users must first obtain an EPA user identification. The user ID can be
obtained by submitting a request to the contact above. Upon approval of the request, the
user will be sent an ID, a password, and user information. NTIS sells a diskette
containing EMMI as well as appropriate documentation. In addition, NTIS can arrange
for online access to NCC. NTIS will provide services in obtaining clearance from the
data base manager, obtain identification for users, and bill users for computer services
provided by NCC.
KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
Environmental Monitoring Methods Index, U.S. EPA, PB92-503-093, December 1991.
This report contains system documentation and is available along with system diskettes
from NTIS.
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GRANTS REPORTING AND TRACKING SYSTEM (GRTS)
Data Collected:
Reporting Requirements:
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Contact:
Nonpoint source grant tracking data
Grants under Clean Water Act Section 319(h)
National
Online system
Don Kunkoski, Office of Water, Office of
Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds,
(202) 260-7103
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
Nonpoint source pollution can occur in lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, estuaries, other
coastal waters, and ground water. Under Section 319 of the CWA, States address
nonpoint source pollution by developing nonpoint source assessment reports, adopting
management programs to control nonpoint source pollution, and implementing the
management programs. Under Section 319(h), EPA awards grants to States to assist
them in implementing EPA approved management programs.
The GRTS data system is designed to track and report on a variety of Section 319
program and grant related information. The system does not contain detailed ground
water data. It does, however, contain project information that identifies ground water
projects funded through this program. The system contains three basic levels of
information for each grant:
(1) Planned State nonpoint source activities;
(2) Project cost information and descriptions; and
(3) Project milestone data.
A number of ground water activities (e.g., general assessment of ground water location
or quality) are eligible for Section 319(h) funding. In addition, the grant guidance
specifies that at least 10 percent of each State's overall work program should be devoted
to addressing priority ground water nonpoint source activities. Other activities that may
be funded under the nonpoint source grants include non-regulatory or regulatory
programs for enforcement, technical assistance, financial assistance, education, training,
technology transfer, and demonstration projects (including monitoring to assess project
success).
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SOURCES
Two types of Section 319(h) grants are awarded by the Regions to the States: (1) base
awards to establish a program and (2) competitive awards based on creative approaches
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to nonpoint source pollution programs. Once a grant has been awarded, States must
report the following information to Regions annually.
$ Program status (e.g., progress made in reducing nonpoint source
pollution, achieving grant milestones); and
* Basic grant reports per 40 CFR Parts 31 and 35 (e.g., financial and
performance reports).
The program status information indicates whether a project is a ground water project.
The GRTS system, however, does not contain specific ground water data for these
projects.
Some ground water projects funded by Section 319(h) grants include the collection of
ground water sampling or monitoring data. The specific ground water information
collected for each grant project is negotiated in the grant workplan. In Region II at least
two Section 319(h) grant projects include ground water sampling. In Region I and IX,
between seven and eight Section 319(h) projects collect ground water information, while
in Regions V, VIII, and X Section 319(h) funding is being used for between 10 and 30
projects that include collection of ground water sampling information. Currently no
Section 319(h) projects in Region IV involve collection of analytical ground water data.
Most Section 319(h) grant projects involving ground water data are expected to contain
detailed analytical information in the final project reports that will cover most of the
MSDE. In addition, many States report information from these projects directly to the
national STORET system; however, the decision to submit data to STORET is up to each
State.
MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
The MSDE are not addressed in this system.
DATA LIMITATIONS
GRTS contains only summary grant information. It is useful for identifying ground
water projects funded in States under the Section 319(h) grant program; however, not all
ground water projects funded through the Section 319(h) grant program collect ground
water data.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
GRTS can be accessed through the EPA mainframe. Access to EPA's mainframe
computing resources is through the EPA National Computer Center (NCC). Prospective
users must first obtain an EPA user identification. The user ID can be obtained by
submitting a request to the EPA contact listed above. Upon approval of the request, the
user will be sent an ID, a password, and user information.
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CRTS is used only for the internal purposes of the Nonpoint Source Program. The
Regions indicated that information about the type of projects funded by Section 319(h)
grants should be obtained through the appropriate Regional office.
KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
Grants Information and Control System Nonpoint Source Subsystem Users Manual, U.S.
EPA, Office of Water, 1993. This guidance describes how to access and use the GRTS
system, and the data elements in the system.
Guidance on the Award and Management of Nonpoint Source Program Implementation
Grants under Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act for Fiscal Year 1994 and Future,
U.S. EPA, Office of Water, June 11, 1993. This document contains guidance for States
addressing grant application and reporting requirements under the Section 319(h)
program.
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STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL OF WATER QUALITY DATA
(STORET)
Data Collected:
Reporting Requirements:
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Headquarters Contact:
Chemical and physical water quality monitoring
information
None, voluntary
National
Online data base
Louis H. Hoelman, Office of Water, Office of
Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds,
(202) 260-7050
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
STORET is an online data base that contains two basic types of information: (1) the sites
(or stations) where ground water monitoring information is collected and (2) the water
quality samples collected at these sites. STORET provides a capability to store,
retrieve, and analyze ground water quality information. STORET contains reliable data
on the quality, use, and environmental significance of ground water resources for policy
and programmatic purposes. Water quality sample information includes where, when,
and how samples were collected, the parameter(s) tested for, and the testing results.
STORET requires the identification of the station and date of monitoring for each entry.
STORET contains measurements of the physical characteristics and chemical composition
of water or sediment sampled.
Information dates from 1899 to the present; however, the majority of the data in
STORET have been collected since 1975. STORET contains information for
approximately 335,000 wells and 11,000 springs throughout the United States.
All 10 EPA Regions have access to the STORET data system. The ground water data
in STORET are submitted directly from a wide range of sources. The data submissions
to STORET are generally voluntary, however, Regional grants may specify that data
collected under the grant must be reported to STORET. In Region IV, the State of
Florida has encouraged several municipalities to regularly report their ground water data
to STORET.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SOURCES
Data submittals to STORET are not mandated under any reporting requirements. EPA,
however, strongly encourages States to submit ground water data by allowing them to
use STORET at no charge if they have submitted their available ground water data.
Information is collected and submitted by, not only States, but also EPA, particularly the
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Superfund program, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Corps of Engineers, Tennessee
Valley Authority, Interstate Basin Commissions, and other Federal agencies with
monitoring programs, as well as contractors, universities, and individuals. USGS
submits more data than any other contributor. USGS submits monitoring data monthly.
EPA updates STORET data files weekly with the transactions that have been submitted
throughout the week. All data are submitted in electronic form. Although STORET
software edits incoming data for errors and inconsistencies, the submitter of the data has
the primary quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) responsibility.
The Regions provided the following estimates of the extent to which States, EPA, and
other Federal agencies in their Regions store ground water data in STORET.
* Regions I, II, IV, VI, and X store very little ground water
data in STORET, largely because they have similar data
systems.
* Region V stores ground water data on approximately
25,000 wells in STORET. The ground water data are
primarily submitted by States.
* States in Region III, VII, and VIII store a significant
amount of ground water data in STORET.
4 Region IX stores ground water data on approximately
80,000'wells in STORET. Data on approximately 60,000
of those wells are supplied by the State of California.
MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
Currently, STORET has fields for 19 of the 21 MSDE. The missing MSDE fields are
for the method used to determine altitude and quality assurance. The updated version
of STORET will contain fields for all 21 MSDE. The current STORET has been
adjusted to allow information for the MSDE to be entered in narrative fields as text
descriptions.
The Regions were unable to estimate the extent to which the MSDE fields currently in
STORET are used. Most Regions have not developed their own guidance on
incorporating the MSDE into STORET. MSDE use is inhibited by the difficulties of
educating the disparate groups that use STORET.
DATA LIMITATIONS.
Because the needs of STORET users vary greatly, the quality and types of data may vary
according to the source and purpose of the data collection effort. In addition, the quality
of the data is uncertain because the persons who submit data are responsible for most
QA/QC, and the QA/QC procedures are not reported in the data system. Submitters who
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choose to expend resources on collection and entry of data are sometimes more likely to
also maintain quality data. Nevertheless, because the purpose for collecting the data, the
QA/QC procedures, and the analytical techniques are not reported in STORET, the
quality of the data is often suspect. The new STORET will require QA/QC information
to be attached to the data.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
The STORET data base resides on an IBM ES-9000 mainframe computer system located
at EPA's National Computer Center (NCC) in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
STORET is accessed by a variety of State and Federal programs that use monitoring data
for regulatory or analysis purposes, such as the Office of Solid Waste, Office of Pesticide
Programs, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, and State programs dealing
with hazardous waste management or industrial and domestic waste waters.
A STORET user ID may be acquired by contacting STORET user assistance at (800)
424-9067 to ascertain whether the intended user's organization is already using STORET
and to develop a funding agreement for use of the system. Any EPA employee can
obtain direct access to STORET by obtaining a user ID. Currently, approximately 500
user IDs have been issued for STORET. There are 35,000 to 45,000 information
retrievals per year.
STORET data can be retrieved in several ways. Data may be downloaded directly to a
computer, or EPA will perform a search and send data to requestors. Data retrieval
requests are usually entered at computer terminals. STORET can be accessed by any
person with access to the EPA National Computer Center IBM mainframe computer. In
addition, STORET can be accessed with a personal computer. The EPA National
Computer Center (NCC) distributes two PC communications software packages,
KERMIT and ARBITER, for accessing the EPA Mainframe computer. These packages
will be sent on request to users of the NCC.
The National Water Data Exchange (NAWDEX), an office of the U.S. Geological
Survey (USGS), will also perform STORET data extractions on request on a cost-plus
basis. Information may also be extracted from a USGS terminal and paid for directly
through a private account. The National Technical Information Service (NTIS) will also
extract data from STORET for a fee or grant direct access to EPA's NCC mainframe
also for a fee.
KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
Ground Water Data Management with STORET, U.S. EPA, Office of Ground Water
Protection, EPA-440/6-87-005, May 1987. This manual contains instructions for users
of the STORET data base.
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Office of Prevention,
Pesticides, and Toxic Substances
Office of Pollution
Prevention and
Toxics
Graphical Exposure
Modelling Systems
(GEMS)
Title OI Toxic
Release Inventory
(TRI)
Office of
Pesticide Programs
Ground Water Studies
National Survey of
Pesticides in Ground
Water (NFS)
Pesticide Information
Network (PIN)
Pesticide State
Management Plans
(SMPs)
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GRAPHICAL EXPOSURE MODELING SYSTEMS (GEMS)
Data Collected:
Reporting Requirements:
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Contact:
Information necessary for general population
exposure modeling
None
Continental United States
Two versions: one runs on EPA VAX, the other
on PCs
Cathy Turner, Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and
Toxic Substances, Office of Pollution Prevention
and Toxics, (202) 260-3929
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
The Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) maintains the electronic model
and data base for the Graphical Exposure Modeling Systems (GEMS). GEMS is an
exposure system designed to perform general population exposure modeling in several
environmental media. The system includes the modeling programs and associated data
sets for estimating exposure (e.g., population, climatological information, geographic
boundaries, stream characteristics, and chemical properties). GEMS contains some
general information on ground water, such as depth to ground water, but it does not
contain specific data on quality, such as reported contamination. OPPT designed GEMS
to help evaluate the exposures and risks presented by releases of chemical substances.
OPPT uses this information in carrying out the mandates described in the Toxic
Substances Control Act Sections 4 through 6. In addition, the system is available to State
and local environmental agencies for their use in evaluating the chemical release
information made available under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-
Know Act of 1986. EPA Headquarters updates GEMS and distributes it to the EPA
Regions.
EPA maintains two versions of GEMS: an online mainframe version (GEMS) and a PC
version (PCGEMS). The two versions are similar but not identical. Because of the
smaller memory capacity of a personal computer, PCGEMS cannot handle some the
larger data sets or some of the more memory-intensive models, such as the TRIAIR
Atmospheric Modeling Subsystem. GEMS uses the Analytical Transient 1-2-3
Dimensional Model (AT123D) to predict the spread of a contaminant plume through
ground water (saturated zone) and to estimate the chemical concentration within
groundwater at positions on a user-specified three-dimensional grid. The user inputs
various parameters such as aquifer size, soil and waste properties, and release rates to
model the fate of the contaminant. Contamination via unsaturated soil zones can be
modeled using either SESOIL (Seasonal Solid Compartment Model) or PRZM (Pesticides
Root Zone Model). There are several GEMS data sets which contain aquifer data, and
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which can be used as a.source of information and input for this model. For example,
the DRASTIC dataset contains data including hydraulic conductivity ranges for each
county in the U.S. The CLIMATE data set contains rainfall data for over 3,000 U S
locations. The SOILS and MUUF (Map Unit Use Files) data sets contain soil data for
counties throughout the U.S.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SOURCES
Collection of the information contained in GEMS is not mandated by statute. Chemical
data contained in the system are obtained from other EPA programs. Climatic data are
obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Soils
data are obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Preliminary draft datasets
of groundwater well locations for municipalities have been created using data reporting
from the Ground Water Protection Division have not yet been verified. The data in the
system cover the continental United States. Data are updated, but not on a set schedule.
MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
GEMS contains information on the seven following elements: latitude, longitude, method
for determining latitude and longitude, description of entity, State FIPS codes, County
FIPS codes, and depth to ground water. GEMS also contains a small amount of nonpoint
source ground water information, such as the average depth to the aquifer for most
counties in the United States. Information from the various data sets (e.g. population and
climatic information) can be retrieved by including latitudinal and longitudinal
coordinates.
DATA LIMITATIONS
Because collection of ground water data is not the primary purpose of GEMS, it has no
information on actual ground water samples or contamination. GEMS is designed to
model chemical releases. Although it can be used to model releases to ground water, it
is not intended to store information on actual ground water contamination. It contains
only general characteristics of ground water necessary to model contamination.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
GEMS resides on the EPA mainframe in the VAX Cluster of computers, which are
maintained by the EPA, NCC at Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. To use
GEMS, one must have an account on the VAX Cluster and access to a computer terminal
with a modem. Access to GEMS can be obtained by establishing a GEMS account with
the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) for a fee.
EPA also created a version that could run on IBM compatible personal computers,
PCGEMS. PCGEMS can also work interactively with GEMS. The PCGEMS software
is distributed by General Sciences Corporation for a fee.
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There are a total of approximately 300 users of the mainframe version of GEMS, who
are mostly Federal, State, and local agencies and their contractors.
KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
GEMS User's Guide, U.S. EPA, Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances,
Economics, Exposure and Technology Division, March, 1989.
Harrigan, Patricia and Annette Nold, Training Materials for GEMS and PCGEMS:
Estimating Chemical Concentrations in Unsaturated Soil and Groundwater, January
1989.
PCGEMS User's Guide, Release 1.0, U.S. EPA, Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and
Toxic Substances, Economics Exposure and Technology Division, November 1989. The
guide contains the necessary information to install, operate, and manage the PCGEMb
software.
Yeh GT AT123D- Analytical Transient' One-, Two-, and Three-Dimensional
Simulation of Waste Transport in the Aquifer System, Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
March 1981.
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Toxic RELEASE INVENTORY (TRI)
Data Collected: Toxic chemical release reports
Reporting Requirements: Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-
Know Act of 1986 Section 313
National
Online system
Gerry Brown, Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and
Toxic Substances, Office of Pollution Prevention
and Toxics, (202) 260-7248 or 0568
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Contact:
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
The Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) maintains the Toxic Release
Inventory (TRI), a series of online data bases. The data bases contain information on
the estimated annual releases of certain toxic chemicals to the environment. OPPT
collects, enters, and continually updates the TRI.
TRI covers the release of over 300 toxic chemicals to air, water, or land or by
underground injection. Ground water elements other than latitude and longitude of
reporting facilities detailed in the MSDE are not directly addressed. The data bases,
however, describe releases to receiving streams or water bodies, underground injection,
soil, landfills, land treatment units, surface impoundments, and other disposal facilities.
Location of release, affected media, quantities released by chemical are some of the data
types found in TRI.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SOURCES
TRI was established by Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act.
A facility must report annually to EPA if it: (1) conducts manufacturing operations
under Standard Industrial Classification codes 20 through 39; (2) has 10 or more full-
time employees; and (3) manufactures, imports, or processes more than 25,000 pounds
or otherwise uses over 10,000 pounds per toxic chemical in a calendar year.
Approximately 22,000 facilities in the United States and its protectorates report each
year. Facilities submit their reports using Form R, a table-format document designed to
simplify reporting. Corrections to prior year data are made continuously at the EPA
level and biannually for the public data bases Toxicology Data Network (TOXNET) and
the Right-to-Know Network (RTKNET). The content of the TRI online data bases can
be supplemented, altered, or updated only by the facilities that report the data and the
EPA staff who enter the data.
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MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
TRI does not purposefully incorporate the MSDE for ground water quality. Facility
latitude and longitude are the only MSDE elements required. The guidance document
for Form R includes detailed instructions on how to report an exact latitude and
longitude. The latitude and longitude reported by the facility are expected to be correct
because of the detailed methodology provided to the facility in the guidance. The system
also contains information on releases to ground water, thus it would contain data on
constituents and values. Therefore, TRI contains four of the 21 MSDE elements.
DATA LIMITATIONS
No detailed ground water information exists in this data base. TRI can be used to
research relevant information such as locations of underground injection wells and
publicly owned treatment works, surface water bodies, and associated releases of specific
chemicals to the environment.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
TRI data bases operate on the National Library of Medicine's TOXNET system,
RTKNET administered by the Unison Institute and OMB Watch, and the EPA mainframe
computer. Researchers include EPA Headquarters, Regions, States, universities, trade
associations, and private citizens. EPA staff access data through EPA's mainframe
computers through the EPA National Computer Center. Prospective users of EPA's
mainframe must first obtain an EPA user identification. The user ID can be obtained by
submitting a request to the contact listed above. Upon approval of the request, the user
will be sent an ID, a password, and user information. An IBM compatible computer and
a modern are the only hardware needed. Approximately 2,000 requests for access or
data searches are logged in each year.
KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
Toxic Chemical Release Inventory: Form R and Instructions for 1992, U.S. EPA, Office
of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, January 1993. This manual contains instructions for
completing and submitting Form R.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory on the National Library
of Medicine's Toxicology Data Network (TOXNET) System., U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, July 1991. This document describes the TRI data bases and how
to access them through TOXNET.
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GROUND WATER MONITORING STUDIES
Ground water monitoring data for specific
pesticides
Reporting Requirements: Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
Sections 3(c)(l)(D), 3(c)(7), and 3(c)(2)(B)
National
Hard copy
Elizabeth Behl, Office of Prevention, Pesticides,
and Toxic Substances, Office of Pesticide
Programs, (703) 305-6128
Data Collected:
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Contact:
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) maintains a collection of hard copy ground
water studies that contain data on the effects of pesticide use on ground water. The
studies which support pesticide registrations, generally contain ground water momtonng
data that demonstrate (1) the potential for a pesticide to leach to ground water from a
specific use in a specific hydrogeological environment, and/or (2) whether a currently
registered pesticide has affected ground water. Studies may contain data from one-time
demonstration of chemical application projects or attempt to evaluate the impact of past
pesticide use in specific areas. Since the mid 1980s, approximately 100 such studies
have been conducted. OPP hopes to incorporate data from these files into the updated
PIN (see page 69), although the Office has not set a date for completing this task.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SOURCES
EPA may require pesticide registrants to submit data from ground water monitoring
studies to support the registration of pesticide products under FIFRA Section 3(c)(l)(D)
and (c)(7) Under FIFRA Section 3(c)(2)(B), the Agency may require the submission of
these data to support continued registration. Ground water monitoring studies are
required when residues of a pesticide that an applicant is seeking to register have been
detected in ground water or when EPA suspects that the pesticide will leach into the
ground water, based on a review of environmental fate data. OPP recommends that
ground water studies contain information on soil (e.g., permeability, density, water
holding capacity), hydrogeology (e.g., water table elevation, ground water flow and
velocity, type of aquifer, hydraulic conductivity), and climate (e.g., rainfall averages,
irrigation) for the tested area.
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MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
Ground water studies may contain some of the MSDE. For example OPP suggests
sample collection records include the following elements, which correspond to MSDE:
* Location by supply system and number;
4 Location of sample site;
* Depth to water;
* Sample identification number and date (time is rarely included); and
4 Quality assurance procedures.
Thus, the studies may contain five of the 21 data elements in the MSDE although not
necessarily in the specified format.
DATA LIMITATIONS
The ground water studies are limited to monitoring for the impacts on ground water of
specific pesticides. They are used for a specific purpose - evaluating a registrant's
application for registration or continued registration. The studies may be updated when
further ground water monitoring data are requested to support the continued registration
of a pesticide. The scope of the studies varies with each pesticide. Some studies may
contain extensive monitoring information for a number of locations and over a number
of years, where others may test the behavior of a pesticide in one particular location for
a short period of time. The quality of the data should conform with OPP suggested
general quality assurance procedures for registrants conducting ground water monitorine
studies. 6
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
The studies are used by EPA staff to evaluate a registrant's application for registration
of a pesticide and for regulatory determinations. There are seven regular EPA users and
approximately 30 occasional EPA users of the information.
Studies are available to parties outside of EPA through a written Freedom of Information
Request. Requested information is available in hard copy only, charged on a per-page
basis, and requests typically would take four weeks to process. The address is included
in the introduction to this document under "System Types and Access."
KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
Guidance for Ground Water Monitoring Studies (draft), U.S. EPA, 1988. This guidance
for pesticide registrants addresses conducting ground water monitoring studies, data
collection, and data reporting. OPP hopes to issue a revised guidance in late 1994.
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
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NATIONAL SURVEY OF PESTICIDES IN DRINKING WATER WELLS
Data Collected:
Reporting Requirements:
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Contact:
Frequency and concentration of pesticides and
nitrate in drinking water wells
None
National
Hard copy and magnetic tape
Elizabeth Behl, Office of Prevention, Pesticides,
and Toxic Substances, Office of Pesticide
Programs, (703) 305-6128
The National Survey of Pesticides in Drinking V/ater Wells (NPS) was a comprehensive
national study of pesticides and nitrate in drinking water conducted by EPA's Office of
Ground Water and Drinking Water (OGWDW) and Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP).
The NPS data base is comprised of a set of disks that contain files pertaining to the
implementation of the Survey, data collected from questionnaires administered to
drinking water well owners and operators, data concerning the analysis of water samples,
and records of the analyses conducted to identify and evaluate factors potentially affecting
pesticide and nitrate occurrence in drinking water wells.
The NPS data base contains information in three categories:
(1) Survey implementation records (e.g., sampling schedules, laboratory records),
(2)
(3)
Survey questionnaire results (e.g., data on pesticide use, spills, and disposal;
agricultural activities; well age, depth, and construction; topography; and surface
water characteristics near the well); and
Analytic data bases (e.g., county-level and sub-county level DRASTIC measures
of ground water vulnerability, pesticide use data, agricultural activities data,
rainfall and drought data, and chi-square analyses).
This information is also presented in the Phase I and II reports listed below. OPP is
currently importing the results from the survey into the Pesticides in Ground Water Data
Base, which will be contained in the updated Pesticides Information Network (see page
69).
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SOURCES
Between 1988 and 1990, EPA sampled more than 1,300 community and rural domestic
wells nationwide for 101 pesticides, 25 pesticide degradates, and nitrate (127 analytes).
The wells were chosen using a stratified sampling technique on the basis of county or
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sub-county measures of ground water vulnerability and county or sub-county measures
of cropping.
MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
NFS contains 9 of the 21 elements in the MSDE. For each well sampled, the data base
contains:
Data sources
FIPS code (State and county)
Well use
Sample identifier and date sampled
Constituent measured (i.e., analyte)
Concentration of analyte detected
Analytical results qualifier
(lab records)
Quality assurance indicator
(lab records)
For each well, the system also contains the FRDS ID number, water system address,
sampling method, and method used to detect analyte.
DATA LIMITATIONS
EPA designed the Survey to yield information on both the frequency and levels of
pesticide contamination, pesticide degradates, and nitrate in rural domestic (private) and
community (public) drinking water wells on a nationwide basis. The Survey focused on
the quality of drinking water in wells, rather than on the quality of ground water, surface
water, or drinking water at the tap. This Survey does not assess pesticide contamination
in drinking water wells at the local, county, or State level. The sampling took place over
a two-year period. In addition, the identification of all rural domestic water systems is
confidential.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
The National Technical Information Service (NTIS) sells magnetic tapes containing the
NFS as well as appropriate documentation. In addition, NTIS can arrange for online
access to EPA's National Computer Center (NCC). NTIS will also obtain clearance
from the data base manager, obtain identification for users, and bill users for computer
services provided by NCC.
KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
National Survey of Pesticides in Drinking Water Wells: Data Base Documentation,
Revision 1.0, U.S. EPA, Office of Water and Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic
Substances, February 1993. This report contains data elements in the NFS, State
summary data, and DRASTIC ground water vulnerability maps of each State.
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National Survey of Pesticides in Drinking Water Wells: Phase I Report, U.S. EPA,
Office of Water and Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, EPA 570/9-
90-015, November 1990. This report contains information on Survey design and
implementation, text of questionnaires, and tables presenting national estimates and
confidence intervals for well characteristics derived from survey data.
Another Look: National Survey of Pesticides in Drinking Water Wells: Phase II Report,
U.S. EPA, Office of Water and Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances,
EPA 570/9-91-020, January 1992. This report describes the data sources used in the
Phase II analyses.
NPS Summary Results of Phase II; NPS Phase I Final Results Press Package, U.S. EPA,
Office of Water and Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, EPA 570/9-
91-021, September 1991. Available through the Safe Drinking Water Hotline, 1-800-
426-4791.
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PESTICIDE INFORMATION NETWORK (PIN) / PESTICIDES IN
GROUND WATER DATABASE (PGWDB)
Data Collected:
Reporting Requirements:
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Contact:
Pesticide monitoring data
None, voluntary
National
PC-bulletin board and hard copy
Connie A. Haaser, Office of Prevention,
Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Office of
Pesticide Programs, (703) 305-7499
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
The Pesticide Information Network (PIN) is a free computerized information service
offered by the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP). The PIN is an interactive, online
collection of datasets containing current scientific and regulatory information concerning
pesticides. The PIN is being expanded to accept multiple users and other datasets that
include the following information: ground water monitoring data; physical/chemical
characteristics of pesticides; environmental fate, mammalian, avian, and aquatic
lexicological end points; expanded regulatory status information; and a certification and
training bibliography. One of the datasets being added to the expanded PIN is the
computerized portion of the Pesticides in Ground Water Database (PGWD).
PGWD was created by OPP to provide a more complete picture of ground water
monitoring for pesticides in the United States. It is a collection of ground water
monitoring studies conducted by Federal, State and local governments, the pesticide
industry and private institutions. It consists of monitoring data and auxiliary information
in both computerized and hard copy form. The ground water monitoring information in
the PGWD is currently available as a set of hard copy summary documents: Pesticides
in Ground Water Database - A Compilation of Monitoring Studies: 1971 -1991 (1992
PGWD Report). This set of documents consists of 11 volumes: a National Summary and
ten EPA regional summaries. Each volume provides a detailed description of the
computerized PGWD and a guide to reading and interpreting the data. Data and
auxiliary information from 45 States and approximately 68,000 wells are presented in
various formats including text descriptions, maps, graphs and tables. The 1992 PGWD
Report contains well sampling data for 302 pesticide related compounds, of which 258
were parent compounds and 45 were degradates. OPP also identified authors, study
directors or other points of contact for each study.
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REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SOURCES
PGWD includes some studies that pesticide registrants are required to submit to OPP to
support the registration of their pesticide. The majority of studies in the system,
however, were submitted by Federal and State agencies and private institutions such as
universities. These studies are submitted voluntarily and study directors wish to include
their work in the PGWD because it offers the opportunity to share data and expertise.
MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
PGWD contains only ground water monitoring data concerning pesticides. The updated
PIN will contain fields for each of the MSDE. Since the data are voluntarily submitted,
studies rarely contain information for all elements. Typically, data submitted include a
well identifier, location, number and type of pesticides tested for, date of monitoring,
analytical results, detection limit, and type of well. Elements such as altitude and well
depth are rarely submitted. Data for each study are organized in three files that contain
different portions of the MSDE: study file (contains general descriptors), well file
(geographic and well descriptors), and a sample file (sample descriptors).
DATA LIMITATIONS
The ground water monitoring data in the PGWD derive from a number of sources, that
are investigating the potential for ground water contamination by pesticides. In general,
the PGWD provides a relatively comprehensive overview of the ground water monitoring
efforts for pesticides in the United States, the pesticides that are found in the nation's
ground water, and the areas of the country that appear to be the most vulnerable to
pesticide contamination. The data in the PGWD can provide an indication of where
ground water has been sampled, where additional sampling might be necessary and where
contamination occurs in relationship to the intensity of sampling. Differences in study
design, laboratory procedures/equipment, sampling practices, or well use and
construction can affect results. Other limitations governing the interpretation of the data
include the fact that the PGWD is not a complete data set of all ground water monitoring
for pesticides in the United States; monitoring for pesticides in ground water has not been
performed in a uniform manner throughout the United States; and limits of detection have
changed over time and vary from laboratory to laboratory.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
The 1992 PGWD Report, is currently being used on a national level to support OPP's
ongoing regulatory activities, such as ground water label advisories, monitoring studies
required for pesticide re-registration and special review activities. In addition, combining
the information in the PGWD with other environmental fate data and usage data will
assist OPP, at an early stage in the regulatory process, in refining criteria used to identify
pesticides that tend to leach to ground water. On the Regional, State or local level, the
1992 PGWD Report is used as a reference so that data can be shared.
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The computerized portion of the PGWD will become available on the PIN toward the end
of 1993. PIN access is free except for any long distance telephone charged incurred by
the user. The PIN functions much like a PC-PC bulletin board and can be accessed by
anyone with a computer, a modem and communications software set to the following
parameters: phone: (702) 305-5919, Baud 1200 or 2400, Databits - 7, Parity - even,
Stopbits - 1, Duplex - full. PIN user support is available at (703) 305-7499.
KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
Pesticides in Ground Water Database - A Compilation of Monitoring Studies: 1971 -
1991, National Summary, U.S. EPA, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic
Substances September 1992. This document provides an overview of the PGWD, a
discussion of the data included in the report and the data summarized in tables, charts
and maps on a State by State basis.
Pesticides in Ground Water Database - A Compilation of Monitoring Studies: 1971 -
1991, Regions 1-10, U.S. EPA, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances
September 1992. Each of these 10 documents describes the monitoring being performed
in the States in that U.S. EPA Region. Each monitoring study is described and the data
is presented in tables, charts and maps by State on a county by county basis.
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PESTICIDE STATE MANAGEMENT PLANS (SMPs)
Data Collected:
Reporting Requirements:
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Contact:
Results and analyses from state ground water
sampling and monitoring
Biennial reports under FIFRA Section 3 or 6
proposed
National
Hard copy
Linda Strauss, Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and
Toxic Substances, Office of Pesticide Programs,
(703) 305-5561
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
Through a chemical-specific regulatory action under FIFRA Section 3 or 6, EPA plans
to require States to prepare Pesticide State Management Plans (SMPs) for specific
pesticides that pose a significant threat to ground water resources. EPA will invoke the
SMP approach for a specific chemical if: 1) the Agency concludes from the evidence
of a chemical's contamination potential that the pesticide "may cause unreasonable
adverse effects on the environment" in the absence of effective local management
measures; and 2) the Agency determines that, although labelling and restricted use
classification measures are insufficient to ensure adequate protection of ground water
resources, national cancellation would not be necessary if States assume the management
of the pesticide in sensitive areas to address effectively the contamination risk. If EPA
invokes the SMP approach for a specific chemical, its legal sale and use would be
confined to States with an EPA-approved Pesticide SMP. The final Pesticide SMP Rule
is currently under development and is scheduled to be promulgated in January 1995.
Under the draft guidance for SMPs, States are required to address the following 12
components:
(1) State's ground water protection goals (7)
(2) Roles and responsibilities of (8)
State agencies
(3) Legal authority (9)
(4) Resources (10)
(5) Basis for assessment and planning (11)
(6) Monitoring (12)
Prevention actions
Response to detections of
pesticides
Enforcement mechanisms
Public awareness and participation
Information dissemination
Records and reporting
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REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SOURCES
Under the proposed rule, EPA plans to require States to prepare biennial reports for each
Pesticide SMP. EPA Headquarters and Regional personnel will use these reports to
evaluate a State's effectiveness in protecting its ground water resources from pesticide
contamination. The programmatic component will describe how a State is implementing
the 12 SMP components. The environmental component should demonstrate that a
Pesticide SMP is preventing the leaching of pesticides into the ground water. This
component of the report would include:
4 Results and analyses from ground water sampling and monitoring as well
as a summary of significant finds which would prompt a State to increase
its degree of oversight of use of the pesticide or modify its SMP;
^ An assessment of pesticides usage and whether use of the specific
pesticide has increased, decreased, or remained essentially the same
during the reporting period; and
* A description of response actions taken for detections of the specific
pesticide in ground water.
EPA strongly encourages, but does not require, States to submit a final or interim report
of their monitoring data to EPA Headquarter's Pesticides in Ground Water Database
(PGWD) included in the Pesticide Information Network (PIN) referred to in this report
on pages 69-71.
MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
The sampling design and monitoring techniques that States use in developing and
implementing a Pesticide SMP will be evaluated by EPA for their adequacy. EPA
encourages use of the MSDE, but if States choose not to use the EPA set, they should
at least have their own set of data elements that are consistently collected at each
sampling site.
DATA LIMITATIONS
This system does not contain raw ground water data. It contains the results and analyses
of State ground water sampling and monitoring activities. Since EPA only encourages,
but does not require, a State to submit their ground water data to the PGWD, the
database may not contain SMP sampling and monitoring data for each State.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
EPA Regional offices will receive and maintain State biennial reports. Actual ground
water sampling and monitoring data may be found in the PGWD if submitted by the
State.
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KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
Pesticides State Management Plan Guidance for Ground Water Protection, U.S. EPA,
Office of Pesticide Programs, expected late Fall 1993. This document establishes the
components of SMPs and identifies approaches and methods that States may use to
develop and implement SMPs. Appendix A: Review, Approval, and Evaluation of State
Management Plans describes the process and tirneframe for EPA.'s review, approval or
concurrence, and oversight of SMPs. Appendix B: Assessment, Prevention, Monitoring,
and Response Components of Pesticides State Management Plans provides States with
technical guidance to assist in the development of assessment, prevention, monitoring,
and response measures.
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Office of Research and Development
Office of Environmental
Engineering and Technology
Demonstrations
Superfund Innovative
Technology Evaluations
(SITE)
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SUPERFUND iNNOVATIVlPf'ECHNOLOGY EVALUATION (SITE)
Data Collected:
Reporting Requirements:
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Contacts:
Alternative cleanup methods for Superfund sites
None
National
Hard copy and online clearinghouses
John Martin, Office of Research and Development,
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory, (513) 569-
7696
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
The Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation (SITE) program evaluates new and
promising technologies for remediating Superfund sites. The program has three
components: (1) Demonstration, (2) Emerging Technology, and (3) Monitoring and
Measurement Technologies. Superfund remediation technologies often address ground
water. As of October 1991, the SITE program had identified 47 demonstrated or
emerging technologies for remediating ground water. ;
The SITE program publishes Technology Profiles, an inventory of technologies under
each of the components, and for many technologies, Applications Analysis, a report on
the performance of demonstrated technologies. Each technology profile contains (1) a
technology developer and process name, (2) a technology description, (3) a schematic
diagram or photograph of the process, (4) a discussion of wastes for which the
technology is applicable, (5) a project status report, and (6) the name of the EPA Project
Manager and a technology developer contact. The Technology Profiles report also
includes a table identifying the media (e.g., ground water, soil, sediment) for which the
technology is used. The Applications Analysis reports contain more detailed information
on each of the six categories listed above, as well as results of demonstrations.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SOURCES
Under the SITE program, EPA enters cooperative agreements with technology
developers. The developers refine technologies at bench- or pilot-scale and may
demonstrate them with support from EPA at Superfund sites. Under the cooperative
agreement, the technology developer submits information on technologies to EPA's
Office of Research and Development (ORD). The data are usually results of a
demonstration of the treatment technology and encompass the time period of the
demonstration. Thus, data are not updated on a regular basis after the demonstration has
ended.
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MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
The technology reports do not purposely include the MSDE. The project reports or
project files, however, will identify the following: data sources (although elements such
as altitude, latitude and longitude are not included), map delineation of sites (latitude and
longitude of a site, but not a well may be inferred), a developer's own sample identifier,
depth to water, constituent or parameter measured, concentration value, analytical results
qualifier, and quality assurance indicators. Consequently the SITE reports contain eight
of the MSDE, although not necessarily in the recommended format.
DATA LIMITATIONS
The reports are prepared solely to demonstrate a remediation technology. They do not
usually contain site-specific information that can be linked to other data systems. All
laboratory analyses must comply with rigorous and documented quality assurance/quality
control (QA/QC) procedures.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
SITE information is available through the following online information clearinghouses:
Alternative Treatment Technology Information Center (ATTIC), System Operator, (301)
670-6294, and Vendor Information System for Innovative Treatment Technologies
(VISITT), Hotline (800) 245-4505. Technical reports, including the technology profiles
and technology-specific reports are available through ORD Publications, 26 West Martin
Luther King Drive (G72), Cincinnati, OH 45268, (513) 569-7562. Files may be
available for specific projects via the project's EPA Work Assignment Manager.
The SITE program currently has a mailing list of approximately 6500 people, including
Federal, State, and local regulators, engineers, developers, and consultants. SITE
information is used for a variety of purposes ranging from regulation development to
remediation technology selection.
KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
The Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluation Program: Technology Profiles, Fifth
Edition, U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response and Office of
Research and Development, EPA-540-R-92-077, November 1992. This document
contains two-page profiles of demonstrated and emerging technologies and references
contacts for further information.
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Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response
Office of
Solid Waste
Office of Waste
Programs Enforcement
Office of Emergency
and Remedial Response
3-DB Superfund
Data Base
Ground Water
Information Tracking
System with STATistical
Analysis Capability
(GRITS-STAT)
Comprehensive
Environmental Response,
Compensation, and
Liability Information
Svstem (CERCLIS)
Hazardous Waste
Delisting Petitions
ROD Information
Directory (RIDS)
Hazardous Waste
No Migration Petitions
Resource Conservation
and Recovery Information
System (RCRIS)
Special Waste
Reports to Congress
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COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE, COMPENSATION,
AND LIABILITY INFORMATION SYSTEM (CERCLIS)
Data Collected:
Reporting Requirements:
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Contacts:
Contains information on all aspects of potential
hazardous -waste sites from initial discovery to
listing on the National Priorities List
None
System is used by Headquarters and Regions
Online
Jalania Ellis, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response, Office of Emergency and Remedial
Response, (703) .603-8884
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER), Office of Emergency
and Remedial Response maintains CERCLIS, a national computerized program
management and inventory system for sites reported to Superfund. CERCLIS includes
information on potential hazardous waste sites, including an inventory of sites, planned
and actual site activities, and financial information. CERCLIS contains specific ground
water information only for facilities where ground water has been remediated. In such
cases, CERCLIS identifies contaminants detected and subsequent corrective action
activities taken or proposed. Although the level of ground water data are minimal,
CERCLIS is a major EPA system that contains information that indirectly relates to
ground water quality.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SOURCES
Regional program offices (through a Regional Information Management Coordinator),
and to a limited extent, the U.S. Corps of Engineers enter new facility reporting data
directly into the system and update old data periodically. The data come from site-
specific files in the Regional Superfund docket. These documents include, Records of
Decision (RODs), site investigation reports, and enforcement action reports. The system
consists of four primary data groups:
* Site Name(s);
4 EPA Identification Number;
4 Geographic locators (e.g., street address, city, State, county, ZIP code,
latitude/longitude, congressional district,,U.S. Geological Survey [USGS]
hydrologic unit identifier); and
4 Actions taken or proposed under the Superfund program.
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CERCLIS also contains a site incident field that reports a one character code indicating
the overall physical classification of the site or incident. For instance, if the site is
known to have highly contaminated ground water the site incident field would contain the
letter G. In addition, the system provides data for activities that have been undertaken
at the site. This description may contain information on surface impoundments,
underground injection control, or other waste management technologies with the potential
to affect ground water.
MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
CERCLIS does not explicitly incorporate the MSDE for ground water quality. The
system contains site facility latitude and longitude (but not latitude and longitude for a
well or spring).
DATA LIMITATIONS
No detailed ground water information exists in this data base. CERCLIS, however, can
be used to research information such as locations of sites. As mentioned previously,
ground water data included are minimal and may include simply a flag indicating that a
ground water release has been reported.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
CERCLIS operates on the EPA mainframe computer. Users of the system include EPA
Headquarters and Regional offices and several other government agencies, including the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Center for Disease Control's Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry. CERCLIS use is restricted to EPA and other
government agencies. CERCLIS reports and tapes containing the site inventory and site
assessment activity information are available from NTIS.
KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
Access EPA, U.S. EPA, Office of Administration and Resource Management, 1992.
This document briefly summarizes CERCLIS and other EPA data bases.
CERCLIS Site Location Extract, National Technical Information Service, Quarterly. This
document contains data on potentially hazardous sites that have been reported to EPA.
User's Guide to CERCLIS, Chemical Information Systems, Inc., September 1990. This
system documentation lists the primary data elements included in the system.
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GROUND WATER INFORMATION TRACKING SYSTEM WITH
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS CAPABILITY (GRTTS-STAT)
Data Collected:
Reporting Requirements:
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Contacts:
Ground water monitoring data
Specified in operating permits and records
System is used on a Regional and State basis
PC software
Jim Brown, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response, Office of Solid Waste, (703) 308-8656;
Tom Matheson, Region V (Chicago),
(312) 886-7449; Mary Bitney, Region VII (Kansas
City),. (913) 551--7696; Jack Teuschler, Center for
Environmental Research Information (CERI), (515)
569-7314; GRITS-STAT Hotline Support (913)
551-7074
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
EPA's Office of Solid Waste (OSW), in cooperation with the Office of Research and
Development, Center for Environmental Research Information (ORD-CERI), EPA
Region V and EPA Region VII, developed GRITS-STAT, a PC-based software system
designed to store, analyze, and report data generated during ground water monitoring
programs at RCRA, CERCLA, and other regulated facilities and sites. OSW encourages
RCRA Subtitle C and D facility owners and operators to use the software to submit
required annual facility reports containing monitoring data to the permitting authority
(authorized States or Regions). GRITS-STAT assists users in complying with the ground
water monitoring data analysis requirements of RCRA Subtitles C and D.
Currently States in Regions II, IV, V, and VII are using the software to electronically
manage and evaluate ground water monitoring data submitted by facilities in the State.
In most cases, the RCRA programs are administered by the States, with Regions and
Headquarters performing program oversight. Therefore, neither the Regions or
Headquarters maintains these ground water data. Region VII, however, is able to access
the States' "data bases", which consist of a set of disks containing the data submitted by
facilities.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SOURCES
Land-based permitted hazardous waste (Subtitle C) treatment, storage and disposal
facility owners and operators are required by 40 CFR Part 264, Subpart F to conduct
ground water monitoring and submit data at least annually (some reporting requirements
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are more frequent, depending on the permit conditions). Region V requires that facilities
use the GRITS-STAT software as part of their permit conditions.
Subpart F outlines a three-phased ground water monitoring program for regulated units:
detection monitoring, compliance monitoring, and corrective action monitoring. Minimal
data collection requirements involve semi-annual monitoring of parameters and/or
constituents that indicate the presence of hazardous constituents in ground water
(detection monitoring) as well as water level measurements, results of statistical tests to
determine patterns of contamination, quantities of hazardous wastes managed, methods
of treatment, storage, and disposal, and general facility-specific information. Compliance
monitoring is required when indicator parameters exceed background concentrations, in
ground water, and if contamination levels exceed permitted levels, the facility must
conduct corrective action and perform associated monitoring.
In addition, as of October 1993, Subtitle D facilities must comply with 40 CFR Part 258
Subpart E, Ground Water Monitoring and Corrective Action and 40 CFR Part 258,
Subpart F, Closure and Post-Closure Care. The statistical requirements for Subtitle D
monitoring are similar to those described above for Subtitle C.
MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
All of the MSDE are included in the GRITS-STAT data base. The system was designed
to include each element in the format specified, and facilities generally include each
element in their monitoring reporting.
DATA LIMITATIONS
The GRITS-STAT software system is designed for use by Regions, States, and facility
owners and operators. Headquarters does not currently maintain facility specific data,
instead the regulated community stores their own data and reports it to States or Regions.
Regional systems may contain submitted data. The GRITS-STAT software contains
quality assurance and quality control codes. For example, when entering sample
information, the software allows the user to enter quality assurance information on
replicate and duplicate samples, analytical method used, and detection limits.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
There are over 1,500 users of the GRITS-STAT system, including permitting authorities,
industry, consultants, and facility owners and operators. The GRITS-STAT software is
available from the EPA Center for Environmental Research Information, (513)569-7562.
Upon request, Region VII will provide a set of disks containing data for all facilities in
their Region. Users can submit requests to the Region VII contact listed above.
Generally, users request information for a specific facility. Although other Regions
increasingly use GRITS-STAT, GRITS-STAT data are not readily available from the
Regions. The data are maintained in hard copy at the State level.
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The system must be maintained on a standard desktop microcomputer with at least a 286
microprocessor, DOS 3.3 or higher, 640 kbytes memory with at least 570 kbytes
available, a high density floppy disk drive, 9 megabytes on the hard drive, and an EGA
(or better) color graphics card and monitor. The data may be imported from Lotus
spreadsheets into Harvard Graphics or d-Base. An export facility within the system
allows the user to customize the transfer of ASCII information between GRITS/STAT
and other ground water systems.
KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
Statistical Analysis of Ground Water Monitoring Data at RCRA Facilities: Interim Final
Guidance, U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste, April 1989 (EPA/530-SW-89-026). This
report contains guidance for facilities that must comply with the ground water statistical
analysis requirements of RCRA Subtitle C. It is available through the National Technical
Information Service (NTIS) by calling 703-487-4650. The NTIS document number is
PB 89-151-047.
Statistical Analysis of Ground Water Monitoring Data at RCRA Facilities: Addendum to
the Interim Final Guidance (EPA/530-R-93-003), July, 1992. This report updates the
interim final guidance and makes further recommendations on tests for normality, equal
variance, non-detects, and retesting strategies. This document is available through the
RCRA docket by .calling 202-260-9327..
RCRA Ground Water Monitoring: Draft Technical Guidance, U.S. EPA, Office of Solid
Waste, November 1992 (EPA/530-R-93-001). This report contains guidance for facilities
complying with RCRA Subtitle C ground water monitoring requirements for regulated
units and related permitting standards. This document is available from NTIS at 703-
487-4650. The document number is PB-93-139-350.
RCRA Ground Water Technical Enforcement Guidance Document, U.S. EPA, Office of
Solid Waste, OSWER-9950.1, 1986. This enforcement guidance for States and Regions
addresses their responsibility for implementing RCRA Subtitle C ground water
monitoring requirements for regulated units contained and related permitting standards.
User Documentation: A Ground Water Information Tracking System with Statistical
Analysis, GR1TS-STATc4.2, U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development and Office
of Solid Waste, EPA/625/11-91/002, November 1992. This report documents the
GRITS-STAT system and lists all data elements included in the system. It is available
by calling CERI at 513-569-7562.
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HAZARDOUS WASTE DELISTING PETITIONS
Data Collected:
Reporting Requirements:
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Contact:
Delisting Petitions
40 CFR Part 260.20 and 260.22 specify delisting
criteria
National
Hard copy and limited data base
Bob Kayser, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response, Office of Solid Waste, (202) 260-2224
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
The Office of Solid Waste (OSW) collects hazardous waste delisting petitions from
hazardous waste generators, hazardous waste management facilities, and other parties that
hope to delist their wastes. Delisting allows a listed hazardous waste from a specific
source to be excluded from regulation under RCRA Subtitle C. Petitioners must
demonstrate to EPA that the wastes are not hazardous because of facility-specific factors
such as raw material inputs, and processes. Authorized States and EPA review delisting
petitions.
Delisting petitions may contain data on local hydrogeology, locations of ground water
monitoring wells, well logs, and sampling results, including constituents and
concentration data for all well systems and wells (including non-RCRA wells) that
monitor each hazardous waste management unit in which the petitioned waste is, or ever
was, managed. EPA publishes a notice of intent to grant or deny delisting petitions in.
the Federal Register, and accepts public comments before issuing a final decision. The
EPA RCRA Docket maintains a microfiche record for all published decisions. The
Delisting Petition Data Base stores data on v/aste characteristics, waste management
methods, and volume data. Ground water data are not entered into the data base,
although the data base can be used to identify petitions containing ground water data.
OSW maintains the Delisting Petition Data Base.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SOURCES
Parties that hope to delist their wastes voluntarily complete and submit delisting petitions.
Petitions are frequently revised or corrected prior to final approval or denial.
Information submitted in the petition must follow general guidelines found in 40 CFR
260.20 and 260.22. No standard forms are used to submit data to EPA. The delisting
guidance manual, which is cited below, contains a mock petition, however. Petitions
routinely include waste generating process data, waste analysis data, and waste disposal
data. Information submitted also depends upon case specific considerations. If wastes
are disposed of on-site or in off-site dedicated land-based units, ground water data from
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the facility's ground water monitoring system must be included in the petition. Petitions
include data collected pursuant to 40 CFR Part 264 or 265, or an equivalent State
regulation, additional data requested by EPA, and any other documentation that
characterizes the petitioned waste's impact on ground water quality. If EPA determines
that the ground water monitoring data are insufficient to determine whether the petitioned
waste has adversely affected ground water, EPA can require further sampling. Delisting
petitions and accompanying documents are not updated or changed after the final decision
is made.
MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
The delisting petition files do not directly address the MSDE. Facilities submit their
petitions voluntarily and often include reports and data originally collected for other
purposes, such as permitting. No regulated format exists for the type of data reported;
however, the following ground water data are generally submitted: descriptions of site-
specific geology and hydrology; a description of the ground water monitoring system;
well logs and well construction diagrams; a map of monitoring well locations; a
description of well development procedures; analytical results from a minimum of four
rounds of ground water monitoring; a discussion of ground water sampling and analysis
protocols; any additional information required to fully characterize the impact of the
petitioned waste on ground water quality; and an interpretation of the ground water
analytical data based on understanding of site hydrogeology and hydrogeochemistry and
any seasonal variations. The information submitted by a petitioner therefore could
include any or all of the MSDE.
DATA LIMITATIONS
Only a small fraction of delisting petitions contain ground water data, such data are not
entered into the Delisting Petition data base.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
Data contained in the delisting petitions may be accessed in two ways: (1) files may be
viewed on microfiche at the RCRA docket located at EPA Headquarters and (2) the
electronic dBase files of the Delisting Petition Data base can be accessed to identify
petitions with ground water data.
KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
Petitions to Delist Hazardous Wastes: A Guidance Manual, U.S. EPA, Office of Solid
Waste, EPA/530-R-93-007, PB93-169365, March 1993. This document presents
information regarding hazardous waste regulations and guidelines for submitting
hazardous waste delisting petitions.
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HAZARDOUS WASTE No MIGRATION PETITIONS
Data Collected:
Reporting Requirements:
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Contact:
No Migration Variance Petitions
40 CFR 268.6 (authorizes no migration variances)
National
Hard copy
Chris Rhyne, Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response, Office of Solid Waste, (202)
308-8658
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
The Office of Solid Waste (OSW) receives No Migration Variance Petitions from
hazardous waste generators or hazardous waste management facilities that seek a
No Migration Variance to the hazardous waste land disposal restrictions (LDRs). A
No Migration Variance is a formal EPA decision to allow the land disposal of specific,
restricted wastes not meeting the applicable LDR treatment standards at a particular land
disposal unit. All petitions must demonstrate to EPA that hazardous constituents will not
exceed EPA-approved human health-based or .environmentally protective levels for
ground water, surface water, soil, and air beyond the boundary of the disposal unit.
Petitions are not standardized. They vary depending on the characteristics of the waste
and the facility seeking a variance. Petitions should contain a comprehensive description
of regional, local, and site ground water hydrology and ground water monitoring
activities and results. Ground water monitoring data include indicator constituents and/or
all constituents on the modified Skinner List for petroleum constituents. Ground water
monitoring data are reported quarterly, semi-annually, or annually depending on a
facility's RCRA Part B permit requirements.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTH&R DATA SOURCES
RCRA regulations (40 CFR 268.6(c) and (d)) require that petitions contain site-specific
analyses of air, soil, and water quality. These regulations do not specify a standard
format for reporting these data. Data related to ground water that should be included in
a petition are (1) characterization of all aquifers underlying the unit, including thickness,
porosity, permeability, hydraulic conductivity and storage; (2) description of ground
water elevations and seasonal variations; (3) location of local municipal and private wells
surface water intakes and surface water discharges in the surrounding area; and
(4) description of the ground water monitoring plan. If EPA determines that additional
information is needed, EPA sends a letter to the petitioner requesting the additional
information. In addition, EPA may also request information on the facility from the
State.
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MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
The No Migration Petitions do not directly address the MSDE. Nevertheless, the
petitions contain detailed ground water monitoring data, and therefore may contain
several if not all categories of the MSDE. Facilities submit their petitions voluntarily
and often include reports and data originally collected for other purposes, such as
permitting. No format encompassing the MSDE exists for the data reported.
DATA LIMITATIONS
Ground water data found in the petitions are generally detailed. No specific format exists
for collecting and reporting ground water data so that the range of data found in the
petition is not uniform. The petitioner must address the accuracy of the data submitted,
including data representation issues, accuracy, precision, and completeness.
No Migration Petitions and accompanying documents are not updated or changed after
the final decision is made.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
Data contained in the No Migration Petitions may be accessed by the public. The
petitions are available at the RCRA Docket at EPA Headquarters. EPA staff use the
petitions in order to determine if migration is likely to occur. EPA publishes its intention
to either accept or deny a petition in the Federal Register, accepts public comments
during a comment period, and publishes its final decision in the Federal Register.
KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
"No Migration" Variances to the Hazardous Waste Land Disposal Prohibitions: A
Guidance Manual for Petitioners, Draft," U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste, July 1992,
NTIS PB92-207695. This document presents information regarding hazardous waste
regulation and guidelines relevant to submitting No Migration Petitions.
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RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY INFORMATION
SYSTEM (RCRIS)
Data Collected:
Reporting Requirements:
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Contacts:
Notification, permit, compliance, and corrective
action data on hazardous waste handlers
None
System is used on a Regional and State basis
Online
Liza Hearns, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response, Office of Solid Waste, (202) 260-3393
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
EPA's Office of Solid Waste (OSW) maintains RCRIS, as the national program
management and inventory system of the Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act (RCRA) hazardous waste handlers. Handlers can be characterized as fitting
one or more of the following categories: treatment, storage and disposal facilities
(TSDF) and large quantity generators (LGQ), small quantity generators (SQG)
and transporters. RCRIS capture identification, and location data for all handlers,
as well as compliance and enforcement information if actions have taken place
there. In addition, for TSDF's, RCRIS tracks permitting / closure / post-closure
program activities, as well as corrective action assessments and remediation. At
the national level, RCRIS contains few groundwater elements per se. The system
does provide some tracking capabilities at the State and/or Regional level to track
some additional groundwater related information but it is not mandatory and is
not reflected in any national reports.
Reporting Requirements and Other Data Sources
RCRA Subtitle C regulations typically require facilities to submit a notification
of regulated activity to the State or Region depending upon which has
responsibility for program implementation. In addition, TSDF's who are
applying for a permit must submit Part A and Part B forms which identify in
greater detail the nature of their activities. Beyond the data obtained from these
forms, the majority of information in RCRIS is provided by State and Regional
program offices, and is obtained through such activities as on-site inspections.
The main components of RCRIS are the modules corresponding to the primary
areas of program activity: Handler Identification; Permitting/Closure/Post-
Closure; Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement; and Corrective Action. Some
groundwater related information may be found in the Compliance module. In
addition, new elements are being added to the Corrective Action module to
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indicate areas where releases to groundwater have been controlled through
remediation. Other groundwater related data elements are available to Regional
and State program implementers. However, these additional elements are for the
optional user of Regions and States. They do not form part of the national
reporting structure and should not be included in assumptions about the specific
groundwater information available from RCRIS on a national level.
In the enforcement area, data values are available which indicate groundwater
monitoring related violations. However, these may or may not involve actual
releases. The assumption should not be made that a groundwater monitoring
violation necessarily identifies instances of releases to groundwater.
Minimum Set of Data Elements Coverage
RCRIS does not explicitly incorporate the MSDE for ground water quality. The
system does contain facility latitude and longitude (but not latitude and longitude
for a well or spring).
Data Limitations
RCRIS does not contain detailed information concerning groundwater releases on
a national level. RCRIS can be used to research such information as facility
location, waste management activity (e.g. land disposal, incineration, tank
storage). In the near future, the range of groundwater related information
available from RCRIS will expand as States and Regions begin making use of the
new Corrective Action groundwater release environmental indicator data element.
System Use and Access
RCRIS is accessible through the EPA mainframe for EPA and State program
personnel. Due to the presence of enforcement sensitive records, public access
is supported via data extracts that eliminate these records. Copies of the tapes
containing these extracts may be obtained through the National Technical
Information Service (NTIS).
Key Background Documents
RCRA Hazardous Waste Information Management Executive Summary. U.S.
EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, EPA530-S-92-001,
January 1992. This document is a brief summary of RCRIS and another EPA
database, the Biennial Reporting System which contains information on hazardous
waste generation and management.
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ROD Information Directory (RIDs)
Data Collected:
Reporting Requirements:
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Contact:
Record of Decisions data
40 CFR 300.430
National
Electronic data base
Hazardous Site Control Division, Office of Solid
Waste and Emergency Response, Office of
Emergency and Remedial Response,
(703) 603-8860
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER), Office of Emergency
and Remedial Response's Hazardous Site Control Division maintains RIDs. RIDs is an
electronic data base that manages selected information from the Records of Decision
(RODs) documents that are written for facilities on the Superfund National Priorities List
(NPL). The primary function of RIDs is to record the types of remedies that are
implemented at Superfund sites. It is used as an in-house program evaluation tool for
the Hazardous Site Control Division. RIDs is not designed for public distribution or
access. RIDs contains specific ground water information only for NPL sites where
ground water has been contaminated. In such ca.ses, RIDs lists contaminants of concern
and identifies the remedy selected in the RODs. Detailed ground water data, other than
contaminant name and category (i.e., volatile organic, base neutral, PCB, or metals) are
not included.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SOURCES
All data in RIDs are excerpted from RODs. RODs document the decision process use
to detect an NPL site based on its site-specific needs. Regional Project Managers submit
RODs for each site. Selected data are entered into RIDs once per year. The system
includes site identifier fields such as site name, EPA identification number, EPA Region,
and date that the ROD was signed. Remedy fields included in RIDs are remedy selection
code, cost, technology used for source control, technology used for remediation,
applicable regulatory standards that apply, and the remedial program enforcement lead.
However, some fields, such as cost, do not have data reported.
Ground water data in RIDs can be found in the remedy section of the data base. RIDs
lists the contaminant names, contaminant category, and affected media at the site. The
remedy selection code field displays an abbreviated term that corresponds to the remedy
described in the ROD. The remedy selection may describe surface impoundments,
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underground injection control, or other waste management technologies with the potential
to affect ground water.
MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
The ground water section was not designed to encompass the MSDE. For example, the
system does not contain data such as latitude and longitude for wells, nor does it track
constituent and concentration data by well at sites with ground water contamination. It
does, however, contain contaminants and values. Therefore, the system encompasses 2
of the 21 MSDE elements.
DATA LIMITATIONS
The scope of the data base is limited to NPL sites with RODs. No detailed ground water
data such as types or number of wells, depth to ground water, or well monitoring data
are entered into the RIDs data base. Only selected ROD data provided by the Regions
are in the data base. For example, older RODs tend to have less data included in RIDs.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
RIDs is an internal EPA system used primarily by the Hazardous Site Control Division
for reports and studies. Requests are processed by the Hazardous Site Control Division.
Data requests are answered either verbally or by memo. Most requests take from several
days to a week to process. The telephone number is (703) 603-8800. RIDs is not
available to the public.
RIDs data will be merged with the 3-DB data base, currently being developed by the
Office of Waste Programs Enforcement. Refer to the 3-DB data base summary for more
information on this new system.
KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
No background documents are available.
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SPECIAL WASTE MANAGEMENT REPORTS TO CONGRESS
Data Collected:
Reporting Requirements:
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Contact:
Ground water monitoring and other facility-specific
data
One-time surveys
National for specific industries
Hard copy
Bob Tonetti, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response, Office of Solid Waste, (703) 308-8432
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
As directed by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) statute, EPA's
Office of Solid Waste (OSW) periodically prepares Reports to Congress on the adverse
effects that a certain industry's processes and wastes may have on the environment.
OSW has prepared reports on the large volume wastes generated by the following
industries: mineral extraction and beneficiatiori, mineral processing, oil and gas field
production, and coal combustion. Currently, the Office is preparing a report on cement
kiln dust. These reports, which are available only in hard copy, generally are prepared
in support of a determination about whether the Industry's wastes should be regulated as
RCRA hazardous wastes. EPA surveys a targeted industry to determine its waste
generation volumes, waste characteristics, and management practices. Ground water
information obtained from the surveys may include sampling results and other site-
specific data, although generally little ground water information for all special wastes.
However, States are now beginning to collect ground water data at facilities generating
special waste. Survey information may contain confidential business information (CBI)
and is not available to parties outside of OSW.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SOURCES
There are no reporting requirements for these reports. Facility owners and operators,
however, can be required to respond to survey requests under RCRA. Information is
collected through written questionnaires covering operational and waste management
information for individual plants. EPA may conduct sampling and analyses at individual
sites to identify and characterize potential contamination. Typical survey questions
concerning ground water address monitoring frequency, person responsible for
monitoring, sampling methods, contaminants sampled for and detected, and any permit
violations. Because OSW does not request specifics on analytical methods and results,
a surveyed plant generally reports summary ground water information (e.g., monitoring
frequency or contaminants detected).
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MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
The Reports to Congress and the survey information do not explicitly contain the MSDE.
Surveys, however, may contain general information about the number of ground water
samples taken and contaminations detected at facilities and constituents for which
monitoring or testing was conducted. Thus, the surveys may contain two of the 21
MSDE: (1) constituent or parameter measured, and (2) concentration or value.
DATA LIMITATIONS
The Special Waste Reports to Congress respond to Congressional mandates to support
regulatory initiatives. Although the surveys contain some ground water information,
their primary focus is to document waste generation and management for the purpose of
regulatory determinations. Very limited monitoring information is provided, because
most of these plants have been exempted from Subtitle C regulation, and hence, are not
required to monitor ground water quality. Thus, ground water information, if included,
is brief. In addition, the surveys have been conducted for a very limited number of
industries and are not periodically updated. Finally, the reports are available in hard
copy only.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
The Reports to Congress are publicly available, although some of the survey information
collected to write them contains confidential business information and is not publicly
available. Surveys information for reports can be accessed by contacting the RCRA
docket at EPA Headquarters, (202) 260-9327. Reports to Congress may be ordered
through the National Technical Information Service (NTIS).
KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
Report to Congress on Wastes from the Extraction and Beneficiation of Metallic Ores,
Phosphate Rock, Asbestos, Overburden from Uranium Mining and Oil Shale, U.S. EPA,
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Solid Waste, PB88-162-631,
December 31, 1985.
Report to Congress on Wastes from Management of Wastes from the Exploration,
Development, and Production of Crude Oil, Natural Gas, and Geothermal Energy, U.S.
EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, EPA/530-SW-88-003, PB88-146-
21, December 15, 1987.
Report to Congress on Wastes from the Combustion of Coal by Electric Utility Power
Plants, U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, EPA/530-SW-88-
002, PB88-177-977, PB88-177-095, February 15, 1988.
Report to Congress on Special Wastes from Mineral, U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response, Office of Solid Waste, PB90-258-492, July 1990.
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3-DB (UNDER DEVELOPMENT)
Data Collected:
Reporting Requirements:
Geographic Coverage:
System Type:
Contact:
Water quality data from Superfund decision
documents
None
National
Data base under development
Hans Waetjen, Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response, Office of Waste Programs
Enforcement, (703) 603-8945
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
The Office of Waste Programs Enforcement is developing an electronic data base called
the Decision Document Data Base (3-DB). 3-DB will manage data for all Superfund
sites and RCRA facilities that have decision documents, such as Records of Decision
(RODs), RCRA Statements of Basis, and engineering evaluations on file at EPA. 3-DB
is intended to be used as a research and managerial tool that will provide EPA with an
overview of the regulated universe. For example, 3-DB will be able to provide the
cancer risks and toxicity hazard of a constituent by environmental pathway. Ground
water quality data will be entered into 3-DB if ground water quality is addressed in the
decision documents used as sources. The types of ground water elements in the data
base will include the hazardous constituents found in ground water, their concentrations,
and remedial actions involving ground water. The system will generate reports that will
assist Superfund and RCRA Site Managers, Headquarters, and Regions to make remedy
decisions and compare remedy decisions across sites.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER DATA SOURCES
There are no statutory or regulatory reporting requirements underlying 3-DB. It is
intended for use as a tool for internal EPA analysis. Regional Superfund and RCRA Site
Managers will submit copies of decision documents from Regional dockets to the data
base managers (OWPE), All data in 3-DB will be from documents available to the
public. OWPE staff will review, enter, QA/QC, and update the data in 3-DB as
necessary. Revisions will probably be made quarterly.
MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS COVERAGE
3-DB is under development and the MSDE has not been incorporated. In general, the
data base will contain over 200 data fields organized into two data modules. Logistical
data will contain information such as the site's EPA identification number, street address,
city, State, county, and latitude and longitude. The system contains facility latitude and
Page 99
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longitude (but not latitude and longitude for a well or spring). The contamination section
will incorporate constituent and concentration data for known releases to the environment
and any past or planned remedial actions at the site. Fields will be organized so that data
can be accessed using the facility name, operable unit name, or medium.
DATA LIMITATIONS
3-DB is under development. 3-DB will not provide data on ground water contamination
unless the release has been detailed in EPA decision documents. If ground water data
are entered, 3-DB will not include detailed site information such as contaminants by
individual wells. 3-DB may include a simple flag indicating whether ground water
contamination is present if no other data are available in decision documents.
For quality assurance and control, ten percent of the data entered into 3-DB will be
double entered. Users can report inconsistencies or errors to the system managers.
SYSTEM USE AND ACCESS
3-DB is being developed in two stages. " In the first stage, Superfund and RCRA Site
managers at the Headquarters and Regional level will be able to submit data for entry
into and use 3-DB. Superfund and RCRA staff at Headquarters and in the Regions will
be able to access 3-DB online, through the EPA LAN system. In the second phase, the
general public will be given access to 3-DB. States, universities, and research
institutions are expected to use 3-DB. The public will probably access 3-DB on disk.
3-DB will generate standard printouts or process special data requests. Data requests will
print to the screen or printers. Hans Waetjen, of OWPE, is the System Manager in
charge of developing the 3-DB system.
KEY BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
Background documents are presently under development.
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4. MINIMUM SET OF DATA ELEMENTS
FOR GROUND WATER QUALITY
MATRICES
This section contains matrices indicating the presence of the Minimum Set of Data
Elements for Ground Water Quality (MSDE) and the format in which each element is presented
in each data system. These matrices, like the system summaries, are organized at the EPA
Headquarters Assistant Administrator level (i.e., Office of Water [OW], Office of Prevention,
Pesticides, and Toxic Substances [OPPTS], Office of Research and Development [ORD], and
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response [OSWER]). Within the Assistant Administrator
Offices, the matrix entries are organized by program office (e.g, Office of Ground Water and
Drinking Water within OW). Appendix B contains an index to all data systems and offices.
Key To Matrices - The key to the matrices indicates two types of information.
The letter in each box indicates whether the system contains the MSDE element. The
key codes are:
(a)
Always contains element. The system explicitly includes this element.
An electronic data system would contain a data field for this element.
Reporting requirements for this program would require the element.
(b)
Regularly contains element. This element is not required for the
submission of data to the system, however, it is regularly included. An
electronic data system may or may not contain a data field explicitly for
this element.
(c)
Sometimes/may contain element. This element is not required for
submission of data to the system, however, it is sometimes included in
information collected/submitted. An electronic data system may or may
not contain a specific data field explicitly for this element. NOTE: This
code can also indicate that the contact for the data system was not certain
that every submission to the system contained this element, but was
relatively confident that the system includes some of this type information.
(d)
Does not contain the data element.
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The number in each box indicates whether the data element in the system is consistent
with the recommended MSDE format. The key codes are:
(1)
Format consistent with MSDE. The recommended MSDE format is
required by the data system for the element or the format for the element
otherwise conforms to all conventions and subelements specified by the
MSDE. For example, latitude is specified in the recommended +/-
DDMMSS.SSSS format.
(2)
Format differs from MSDE. Format does not conform to all conventions
and subelements specified by the MSDE. For example, latitude is
specified in the system, but not in the recommended +/-DDMMSS.SSSS
format.
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Appendix A
Definitions for the
Minimum Set of Data Elements
for Ground Water Quality (MSDE)*
* .'For more comprehensive discussion on the MSDE, consult EPA Policy Order #7500.1 A and the accompanying
guidance document entitled Definitions for the Minimum Set of Data Elements For Ground Water Quality (EPA 813/B-
92-002, July 1992). The guidance includes the elements, definitions, examples and additional discussion on application
and use.
-------
The Minimum Set of Data Elements for Ground Water Quality
The MSDE is comprised of 21 data elements that are divided into the following four categories or
descriptors: (1) The general descriptor describes where the well information is maintained; (2) the
geographic descriptors describe a well or spring in relation to the earth's surface; (3) the well descriptors
describe various features of a well or spring; and (4) the sample descriptors describe different aspects of
collecting, analyzing, and recording the results of a ground water sample.
General Descriptor
1. Data Sources — The names of the organizations to direct questions regarding the following data:
(1) latitude and longitude coordinates, (2) altitude, (3) well log information, (4) sample collection, and (5)
laboratory sample analyses.
Geographic Descriptors
2. Latitude — A coordinate representation that indicates a location on the surface of the earth using the
earth's equator as the latitude origin, reported in degrees (D), minutes (M), seconds (S), and fractions of a
second in decimal format (if fractions of a second are available). A " +" (plus) symbol represents latitudes
north of the equator. A "-" (minus) symbol represents latitudes south of the equator.
3. Longitude — A coordinate representation that indicates a location on the surface of the earth using the
prime meridian (Greenwich, England) as the longitude origin, reported in degrees (D), minutes (M), seconds
(S), and fractions of a second in decimal format (if fractions of a second are available). A " + " (plus) symbol
represents longitudes east of the prime meridian. A "-" (minus) symbol represents longitudes west of the
prime meridian.
4. Method Used to Determine Latitude and Longitude — The procedure used to determine the latitude
and longitude coordinates (Technology of Method Used), the standard used for three dimensional and
horizontal positioning (Reference Datum), the method used for map interpolation (Scale of Map), and the date
on which the coordinates were determined (Date). Latitude always precedes longitude.
5. Description of Entity — A textual description of the entity to which the latitude and longitude coordinate
refers. *
6. Accuracy of Latitude and Longitude Measurement — The quantitative measurement of the amount of
deviation from true value present in a measurement (estimate of error). It describes the correctness of a
measurement.
7. Altitude — The vertical distance from the National Reference Datum for Altitude to the land surface or
other measuring point in feet or meters. If the measuring point is above the National Reference Datum for
Altitude, a " +" (plus) sign shall precede the reported altitude value. If the measuring point is below the
National Reference Datum for Altitude, a "-" (minus) sign shall precede the reported altitude value.
8. Method Used to Determine Altitude — The method used to determine the altitude value (Altitude
Method), the National Reference Datum on which the altitude measurement is based (National Reference
Datum for Altitude), and the date the measurement was taken (Altitude Date).
Page A-2
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The Minimum Set of Data Elements for Ground Water Quality (continued)
Geographic Descriptors (continued)
9. State FITS Code — A Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) alphabetic or numeric code to
indicate the location of the State (or its equivalent such as territory or province) in which the well or spring
is located.
10. County FIPS Code — A Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) numeric code to indicate the
location of the county (or county equivalent) in which the well or spring is located.
Well Descriptors
11. Well Identifier — A unique well identifier assigned by the responsible organization (e.g,. regulator).
12. Well Use — The principal current use of the well or, if the well is not currently in use, the original or
principal purpose for its construction.
13. Type of Log — The type of recordkeeping log(s) available for a well.
14. Depth of Well at Completion — The depth of the completed well below the land surface or other
measuring point, in feet or meters.
15. Screened/Open Interval — The depth below the measuring point to the top and bottom of the open
section in a well reported as an interval in feet of meters. The open section may be a well screen, perforated
casing, or open hole.
Sample Descriptors
16. Sample Identifier — A unique number for each water quality sample collected at a well (Sample
Control Number) which references the date (Sample Date), the depth at which each sample is taken reported
in feet or meters (Sample Depth), and the time the sample is taken (Sample Time).
17. Depth to Water — The vertical distance between the meaisuring point and the water surface level at a
well, corrected to land surface, where the measuring point is not the land surface. This distance should be
reported in feet or meters (Measurement Depth), along with the date and time the measurement was taken
(Measurement Date and Measurement Time).
18. Constituent or Parameter Measured — Measurement of a physical, chemical, or biological component.
The physical, chemical, or biological components are referred to as constituents or parameters.
19. Concentration/Value — The analytical results value, the units of measure used (Analytical
Concentration/Value), and the analytical method applied (Analytical Method) to the samples collected.
20. Analytical Results Qualifier — Qualifying information that will assist in the interpretation of the
concentration/value, such as whether the value is below the detectable limit or if the constituents (parameters)
of interest are present but cannot be quantified.
21. Quality Assurance Indicator — The quality assurance of the field protocol plan and laboratory quality
.assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures.
Page A-3
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Appendix B
List of Data Systems and Program Offices
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List of Data Systems
and Program Offices
Page
Biennial State Water Quality Reports, Office of Water, Office of Ground
Water and Drinking Water 23
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation,
and Liability System (CERCLIS), Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response 83
Effluent Guidelines Studies (EGS), Office of Water, Office of Science and
Technology 43
Environmental Monitoring Methods Index (EMMI), Office of Water, Office of
Science and Technology 45
Federal Reporting Data System (FRDS-II), Office of Water, Office of
Ground Water and Drinking Water 27
Grants Reporting and Tracking System (CRTS), Clean Water Act Section 319,
Office of Water, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds 47
Graphical Exposure Modelling Systems (GEMS), Office of Prevention,
Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Office of Pollution Prevention and
Toxics 57
Ground Water Information Tracking System with STATistical Analysis
Capability (GRITS-STAT), Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response,
Office of Solid Waste , 85
Ground Water Monitoring Studies, Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and
Toxic Substances, Office of Pesticide Programs 63
Hazardous Waste Delisting Petitions, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response, Office of Solid Waste 89
Hazardous Waste No Migration Petitions, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response, Office of Solid Waste 91
National Survey of Pesticides in Ground Water (NPS), Office of Prevention,
Pesticides and Toxic Substances, Office of Pesticide Programs 65
Office of Environmental Engineering and Technology Demonstration 77
Page B-2
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List of Data Systems and Program Areas (continued)
Page
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response 81
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water 21
Office of Pesticide Programs 55
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics 55
Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances 55
Office of Research and Development 77
Office of Science and Technology 21
Office of Solid Waste 81
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response 81
Office of Waste Programs Enforcement 81
Office of Water 21
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds 21
Pesticide Information Network (PIN), Office of Prevention, Pesticides and
Toxic Substances, Office of Pesticide Programs 69
Pesticide State Management Plans (SMPs), Office of Prevention, Pesticides
and Toxic Substances, Office of Pesticide Programs
73
Resource Conservation and Recovery Information System (RCRIS),
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Office of Solid Waste 93
ROD Information Directory (RIDs), Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response, Office of Solid Waste . 95
Sole Source Aquifer Files, Office of Water, Office of Ground Water and
Drinking Water 31
Special Waste Management Reports to Congress, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response, Office of Solid Waste 97
Page B-3
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List of Data Systems and Program Areas (continued)
Page
State Wellhead Protection Delineation Component Data Base (WPD),
Office of Water, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water 37
State Wellhead Protection Program Summaries, Office of Water,
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water 41
STOrage and RETrieval of Water Quality Data (STORET), Office of Water,
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds , 51
Superfund Innovative Technology Evaluations (SITE),
Office of Research and Development, Office of Engineering
and Technology Demonstrations 79
Title III Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), Office of Prevention, Pesticides
and Toxic Substances, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics . 61
Well Activities Tracking, Evaluation, and Reporting System (WATERS),
Office of Water, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water 35
3-DB Superfund Data Base, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response,
Office of Waste Programs Enforcement 99
Page B-4
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Appendix C
Ground Water Information Systems Network
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Headquarters Contacts
Roger Anzzolin
Office of Water
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water
Elizabeth Behl
Office of Prevention, Pesticides,
and Toxic Substances
Office of Pesticide Programs
Gerry Brown
Office of Prevention, Pesticides,
and Toxic Substances
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
Jim Brown
Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response
Office of Solid Waste
Scott Ellinger
Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response
Office of Solid Waste
Jalania Ellis
Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response
Office of Emergency
and Remedial Response
Connie Haaser
Office of Prevention, Pesticides,
and Toxic Substances
Office of Pesticide Programs
Liza Hearns
Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response
Office of Solid Waste
Louis Hoelman
Office of Water
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds
Bob Kayser
Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
Office of Solid Waste
Don Kunkoski
Office of Water
Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds
Ken Lovelace
Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response
Jane Marshall
Office of Water
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water
Bill McCabe
Office of Water
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water
Kevin McCormack
Office of Water
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water
Dick McDermott
Office of Water
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water
Jini Mohanty
Office of Water
Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water
Page C-2
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Headquarters Contacts (continued)
Dan Parker
Office of Administration
and Resources Management
Office of Information Resources
Management
Chris Rhyne
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response Office of Solid Waste
Debbie Ross
Office of Water
Jeff Sexton
Office of Water
Office of Ground Water
and Drinking Water
Linda Strauss
Office of Prevention, Pesticides
and Toxic Substances
Office of Pesticide Programs
Marion Thompson
Office of Water
Office of Science and Technology
Bob Tonetti
Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response
Office of Solid Waste
Cathy Turner
Office of Prevention, Pesticides,
and Toxic Substances
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
Greg Waldrip
Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response
Office of Underground Storage Tanks
Hans Waetjen
Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
Office of Waste Programs
and Enforcement
David Wells
Office of Prevention, Pesticides,
and Toxic Substances
Office of Pesticide Programs
Regional Contacts
Region I
David Delaney
Water Management Division
Robin Fletcher
Office of the Assistant Regional Administrator
for Planning and Management
Doug Heath
Water Management Division
Kathy Lynch
Water Management Division
Robert Moorehouse
Water Management Division
Region II
Malcolm Henning
Water Management Division
Bill Jutis
Office of the Assistant Regional Administrator
for Planning and Management
Page C-3
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Jaima Referente
Water Management Division
Larry Rinaldo
Water Management Division
Region III
Sarah Boonin
Water Management Division
Sumner Crosby
Water Management Division
Charlotte Dennis
Water Management Division
Charles Knutsky
Water Management Division
Region IV
Tom Burnett
Water Management Division
Claudia Darnelle
Water Management Division
Maryann Gerber
Water Management Division
Robert Olive
Water Management Division
Region V
Bri Bill
Water Management Division
Tom Davenport
Water Management Division
Tom Polek
Water Management Division
Region V (continued)
Jane Ratcliffe
Waste Management Division
Donna Williams
Water Management Division
Region VI
Clay Chesney
Water Management Division
Paul Koska
Environmental Services Division
Fran Haertel
Water Management Division
Brad Lamb
Water Management Division
Region VII
Mary Bitney
Waste Management Division
Stan Calow
Water Management Division
Bob Dunlevy
Water Management Division
Julie Elfving
Water Management Division
Bill Pedecino
Waste Management Division
Jerome Pitt
Water Management Division
Page C-4
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Region VIII
Randy Brown
Water Management Division
Roger Deane
Water Management Division
Rich Gomez
Water Management Division
Tony Ott
Water Management Division
Region IX
Richard Lampert
Water Management Division
Tony Lewis
Water Management Division
Jovita Pajarillo
Water Management Division
Eric Wilson
Water Management Division
Research Laboratories
Dave Burden
Robert S. Kerr Environmental
Research Laboratory
Iris Goodman
Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
John Martin
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Lee Mulkey
Athens Environmental Research Laboratory
Michael Roulier
Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory
Jack Teuschler
Center for Environmental Research
Information
Region X
James Hileman
Environmental Services Division
Elbert Moore
Water Management Division
Martha Sabol
Water Management Division
Larry Worley
Water Management Division
Page C-5
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Appendix 1)
List of Acronyms
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