EPA# 833/F-95-001
                                                                       March 1995
                                 PIPES Fact Sheet
The Point Source Information and Provision Exchange System (PIPES) is an electronic Bulletin
Board System (BBS) that is owned by EPA's Office of Wastewater Management's (OWM)
Permits  Division.  It is operated and  managed  by Permits  Division  staff with contractor
assistance. It has been operational since August 1994.  While the original intent of PIPES
was to support  state and local pretreatment coordinators and the pretreatment program in
general, OWM expects to expand its focus to support other OWM interests such as Combined
Sewer Overflows (CSOs), Stormwater, and  Sludge.

The PIPES BBS is free and is available to anyone with an interest in wastewater management.
The system is "user friendly" enough to use without a users  manual, however, a draft  User
Manual (PIPESMAN.ZIP) is available for downloading from the file area in the "Pretreatment"
Special Interest  Group.  Users are strongly encouraged to upload files/documents of general
interest to other users.

If additional information is needed, please call the EPA Work Assignment Manager, Tony
Smith at (202) 260-1017.

Features:

      PIPES operates  24 hours a day, 7 days a  week (except for routine maintenance)

      Special Interest Groups (Pretreatment, CSOs, Stormwater, EPA Regions)

      File Uploading and Downloading capabilities

      Electronic Mail Message Functions

      Bulletin Items

      News Announcements (Meetings,  Conference Calls, etc.)


Access Number and Parameter Settings:

      PIPES Access Number:     (703) 821-4695

      PIPES User Support Number:      (703)  821-4697

      Operating Speed:   Up to 14,400 baud

      Data Bits:    8

      Stop Bit:     1

      Parity:       No

      Full Duplex or No Local Echo

      Terminal Emulation:  ANSI or VT-100

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