SERA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Administration And
Resources Management
(PM-211D)
21M-1014
May 1991
Information Systems Inventory
(ISO User's Guide
Macintosh Version
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Preface
We welcome your comments on this User Guide and on the ISI
Macintosh Prototype system itself. Please send your suggestions to:
ISI Manager
Information Management and Services Division (PM-211D)
Office of Information Resources Management
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, S. W.
Washington, DC 20460
If you know of an EPA-owned or EPA-developed information
system that should be in the ISI but is not, please fill out the form in
Appendix B to the best of your ability and send it to the address
above. Thank you.
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Contents
Section 1 What is the ISI? 1
ISI Objectives 1
OIRM's Role: Maintenance and Updates 1
Three ISI Versions 2
Obtaining Copies of the ISI 2
Section 2 Installing and Opening the ISI 3
Installing the ISI 3
Opening the ISI 3
Home, Sweet Home 4
Diving Right In 4
Section 3 Finding a System 5
Searching From the Index 5
Indexes By Name or By Acronym 6
Scrolling the Index Lists 7
Searching the Index Itself 8
Other Buttons in the ISI Index 9
Section 4 Displaying Information About a System 11
Topic Buttons 12
Topic Headings 13
Navigation and Utility Buttons 15
Section 5 Getting Help Fast 17
Button Notes 17
The On-Line User Guide 18
Section 6 Searching the ISI 19
Finding Additional Occurrences 20
Stopping a Search 21
Going Back to the Screen Where You Began a Search 21
Speeding and Limiting Your Searches 22
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Section 7 Retracing Your Steps 23
Section 8 Paging Forward or Backward 25
Section 9 Printing 27
Section 10 Exiting the ISI 29
Appendix A The EPA Information Systems Inventory Record
Appendix B ISI New System Form
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Section 1
What is the ISI?
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency's Information Systems
Inventory (ISI) contains information on over 500 of EPA's current
information systems, automated models, and data bases and is the
definitive source of summary information about EPA systems. The ISI
was originally developed in 1984 to enhance the Agency's ability to
track major information systems and share information across media
and program boundaries.
ISI Objectives
Maintaining an inventory of Agency systems is required by
federal regulations and oversight agencies. In addition to meeting this
requirement, the ISI's purpose is to:
• Increase awareness of existing Agency information systems;
• Reduce duplicative information system development and data
collection efforts;
• Improve EPA's oversight of information system development;
and
• Enable EPA to respond effectively to requests for information
about Agency systems.
OIRM's Role:
Maintenance and Updates
The ISI data base is updated annually by EPA's Office of Informa-
tion Resources Management (OIRM).
OIRM maintains the master data base and documentation and
coordinates the update process with EPA Headquarters, Regional
Office, and laboratory staff.
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Three ISI Versions
The ISI is available in three versions. The hardcopy version
contains only a subset of the information for each system. The original
automated ISI is a menu-driven, PC-compatible-based application
written in Clipper. The third version runs on Apple Macintoshes and
was developed in HyperCard.
The Macintosh version—the subject of this User Guide—is a
prototype and is still under development. Consequently, some
features will need further refinement. Users are encouraged to document
any problems they experience or any suggestions they have and send them to
the ISI System Manager at the address below.
Obtaining Copies of the ISI
EPA staff may receive copies of the data base and software by
submitting a written request to:
ISI System Manager
Information Management and Services Division (PM-211D)
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street. S. W.
Washington. DC 20460
Contractors and other parties interested in purchasing a hardcopy
ISI, the PC version, or the Macintosh prototype may contact the
National Technical Information Service (NTIS), 5285 Port Royal Road,
Springfield, Virginia 22161 or call (800) 336-4700, or in Virginia (703)
487-4650. The publication numbers and prices for these items are:
• Hardcopy of ISI (PB 91-172940) — $31.00
• Macintosh Prototype Version with User Guide (PB 91-507566) —
$130.00
• PC Version with User Guide (PB 91-507558) — $130.00
• Macintosh Prototype Version User Guide (PB 91-175950) — $15.00
• PC Version User Guide (PB 91-172957) — $17.00
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Section 2
Installing and Opening the ISI
HyperCard
To use the Macintosh ISI Prototype you need any Macintosh
model with at least 1 megabyte (1000K) of internal memory (RAM), a
hard disk drive with at least 1 megabyte of space available, one
"floppy disk drive," and a copy of Apple Computer's HyperCard
software, Version 1.2.1 or higher.
The ISI can be accessed directly from the floppy disk, but its
performance will be slowed considerably. Run it irorn your hard disk
if you have one.
Installing the ISI
ISI Folder
Insert the floppy disk containing the ISI into your diskette drive.
Double-click on the disk icon titled "ISI."
Drag the "ISI Folder" icon into the hard disk's main desktop
window. It will automatically copy itself from the floppy disk
onto your hard disk.
Close the floppy disk window and eject the disk if you wish.
ISI Folder
Home
Opening the ISI
Double-click on the 'ISI Folder" icon on your hard disk's desktop.
Double-click on the "Home" icon in the new window that opens.
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Home
Home, Sweet Home
The HyperCard program requires a file named "Home" in order
to operate. Many experienced users of HyperCard-based applications
have a "Home Card" somewhere in their system that meets
HyperCard's need for a Home file and also serves as a main menu for
all or many of the HyperCard applications on the computer. The ISI
Prototype temporarily replaces any existing Home Cards when you
open it directly by clicking on the "Home" icon.
The Macintosh ISI Prototype is intended for use by people who
have no knowledge of HyperCard or Home Cards. The ISI Home file
simply interposes itself between HyperCard and any other Home files
on the system for as long as you are using it. You don't have to worry
about what folder the Home Card is in on your system—the ISI is its
own Home Card.
This means, though, that the ISI Prototype may not work properly
if you open it—via the "Open Stack" menu command—from your
existing Home Card or from any other HyperCard "stack" on your
system. For best results, exit from all HyperCard applications and
then open the ISI by clicking on its Home icon.
Diving Right In
Reading the remainder of this manual will give you a thorough
introduction to the ISI and its functions. If you want to get going right
away, though, here are two ways to get "help" information within the
ISI itself.
• Hold down the Shift key while you click on any button to display
a brief note about that button's function.
• Click on the User Guide button on any screen to display the on-
line version of this manual. The first "page" you will see contains
some quick pointers to help you get your bearings fast.
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Section 3
Finding a System
The first screen you encounter when you open the ISI is the 1ST
Index. You can reach the index at any time from any system entry by
clicking on the black Index button at the bottom of the screen.
The ISI Index lists the ISI entries. The names and acronyms in
these lists appear exactly as they do in the ISI entry they refer to.
To go directly to a system's entry, click on the system's name or
its acronym in the Index list.
Searching From the Index
If you know the acronym or name of the system you want to see,
it's usually faster to use the Findin ISI button instead of scrolling
through the index and clicking on the line you want. Click on Find in
ISI and enter the acronym or one or two words from the name of the
system you're looking for (Figure 1). See Section 6 for more informa-
tion about searching.
Figure 1.
When you first enter the ISI, the
fastest way to find the system
you're looking for is to click on
Find in ISI, enter the system's
acronym or a portion of its name,
and click on OK.
Please enter the characters to find:
A Low-Level
A National Com
A.D.P.Inventor
AARP Cost Anal
Accidental Releal
Accomplishment
Action Tracking
Acute Oral Toxldty for Birds. Mice, Rats
Additive Information System
Ad mi nistrative Order Trecki ng System
ADMINLAN - Office Forms Facilitator & Perform Pro Administrative LAN
Applications
ADP Budget Planning Sgstem (APS)
ADP Budget Preparation Sgstem
ADP Capital Equipment Inventory System
Advanced Information System for Career Management
Advanced Utility Simulation Model
AEERL-RTP Management Information System
Aerial Photo Database
APS
ADPCETS
AISCM
AUSM
IMIS
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Indexes By Name or By Acronym
The ISI Index contains two separate lists of the systems. The one
you see when you first enter the ISI is alphabetized by system name,
with the corresponding acronyms shown to the right of each line
(Figure 2). A blank line in the acronym list means that the system has
no acronym.
Figure 2.
Click on a system name or the
corresponding acronym to go to
the system's ISI entry.
ISIIndex
Click on the "User Guide" button belov
for information on how to use the ISI.
MPB Exemption!
Multt -Chamber Consumer Exposure Model Version 2.1
Multimedia Exposure Assessment Model for Evaluating the Land Disposal of
Hazardous Wastes
Municipal Waste Combustion - Ash Disposal Facilities Data Base
National Alrand Radiation Environmental Laboratory
National A1r Monitoring Stations Management Information System
National A1r Surveillance Netvork
National Air Toxics Information Clearinghouse
National Asbestos Registry System
National Estuary Program Tracking System
National Municipal Policy Inventory end Tracking System
National Performance Audit Program
National Phytoplankton Data Base (in Lakes)
National Pollutant Discharge Eli mi nation System (NPDES) Compliance Files
National Water-Use Data System
Nebraska Pesticide Certification Database
Nebraska Pesticide Dealers
Nebraska Pesticides Dealer Neutral Scheme
MCCEM
MULTIMED
ASH DISPOS
NAREL
NASN
NATICH
NARS
NEPTUNE
NMP
NPAP
NES PHYTO
NPDES FILE
NWUDS
APPLICATOR
PEST DEAL
DEALERS
The second index list—alphabetized by acronym—is hidden when
you first enter the ISI and only appears when you tell it to. To show
the acronym list, click on the By Acronym button at the bottom of the
screen. The button's name will change to By Name, and the alphabet-
ized acronym list will appear, with the corresponding system names
to the right. The list does not include systems that have no acronym.
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Scrolling the Index Lists
Scrolling one line at a time
Scrolling one windowful at a time
Scrolling to a general location In
the list
The ISI Index lists over 500 systems. To make it possible to show
them all on a small computer screen, a special display window called
a "scrolling field" is used. You move around in this very long list by
making the list move up or down through the white display window
in the middle of the screen.
There are three ways to scroll the index:
Place the hand cursor on the white arrow at the top or bottom of the
gray bar at the far right of the screen. Hold the mouse button down
while you want the scrolling to continue. Release the mouse button
when you want to stop scrolling. This method of scrolling is quite
slow. You probably will want to use it only for moving short distances
in the list.
Place the cursor above or below the white box in the gray bar (be-
tween the white scroll arrows). Click on the gray bar. The index list
will move one windowful each time you click. If you are scrolling
down the list, the last line showing before you clicked will become the
first line showing. If you are scrolling up the list, the first line will
become the last line.
Place the cursor on the white box in the gray bar. Hold the mouse
button down and drag the white box up or down the gray bar. When
you release the mouse button, the list will automatically scroll to a
position that corresponds to the white box's distance from the top of
the gray bar. For example, to move to the approximate middle of the
index list, drag the white box to roughly the mid-point of the gray bar
and release the mouse button. The third method of scrolling is by far
the fastest way to move to a point in the list that is more than one or
two windowfuls away.
IMPORTANT
// the left column of the index list does not scroll to align itself with
the right column, move the cursor back into the gray bar. The two
columns will line up immediately.
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Searching the Index Itself
Scrolling the index can be a little tedious at times. A faster way to
find a system in the index is to perform an automated search for either
its name (or several characters from it) or its acronym.
To do this, click on one of the two black buttons in the lower right
corner of the screen—Find in Names or Find in Acronyms. In either
case, a box will appear on the screen inviting you to enter your search
term (Figure 3). Enter the characters you wish to search for and click
on the OK button in the box (or just press the Return key). You do not
have to use capital letters, even for acronyms.
All index searches are conducted in the list that is alphabetized by
system name. If your search term appears in the list, it will be scrolled
automatically to the top of the list and a small box will appear around
it to attract your eye.
Press the Return key or the Enter key to find the next occurrence
of your term in the same list. You may keep pressing Return as often
as you wish in order to find all occurrences of your term in the index.
However, after the last occurrence has been found in the index list you
are searching, pressing the Return key again will change the cursor
into a spinning beachball, indicating that the search is starting over.
After several seconds, you'll again find the first occurrence in the
index you searched.
To stop the search while the beachball is spinning, hold down the
Command key (also called the Apple key—the one next to the space
bar) and type a period at the same time.
Figure 3.
Click on the Find in Names or
Find in Acronyms button and
then enter the characters you
want to find.
A Lov- Level
A National Comp
A D P Inventory
AARPCostAnali,
Accidental Relea
Accomplishment
Click on the "User Guide- button below
lie 151.
Please enter the characters to find:
Action Tracking System
Acute Oral Toxtcttg for Birds, Mice, Rats
Additive Information System
Administrative Order Tracking System
ADMINLAN - Office Forms Facilitator & Perform Pro Administrative LAN
Applications
ADP Budget Planning System (APS)
ADP Budget Preparation System
ADP Capital Equipment Inventorg System
Advanced Information System for Career Management
Advanced Utility Simulation Model
AEERL-RTP Management Information System
Aerial Photo Database
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Other Buttons in the ISI Index
The ISI Index displays the following battons in addition to the
ones already discussed in this section.
Click on this button to begin a search of all ISI entries from the index.
See Section 6 for more information on searching the ISI.
Use this button to display the on-line version of this User Guide while
you are using the ISI. See Section 5 for more information on the on-
line User Guide and other quick-help features.
This button will take you straight back to the ISI entry you were
viewing just before you came to the ISI Index. (See Section 7.)
Click on this button when you want to exit the ISI. (See Section 10.)
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Section 4
Displaying Information
About a System
Each entry in the ISI has the layout shown in Figure 4.
The system's acronym and full name are displayed at the top of
the screen. (The acronym area at the upper left will be blank if the
system has no acronym).
Along the right edge of the screen are a set of white "topic
buttons" used to control the type of information about the system that
is displayed in the rectangular white window in the center of the
screen. The black buttons along the bottom edge of the screen perform
navigation and utility functions described on the last page of this
section.
Figure 4.
Each system entry provides a
window for viewing information
on various topics. Click on a
topic button along the right edge
to change the display to that
topic.
Under section 301 (h) of the Clean Water Act, dischargers with 301(h)
modified NPDES permits provide required monitoring information
which demonstrates compliance with the law. The Ocean Data
Evaluation System (ODES), managed by the EPA Office of Water, 1s a
primary source for maintaining, retrieving and analyzing marine,
estuarlne, and freshwater data. ODES provides a wide range of
powerful and easy-to-use statistical, graphical and modeling tools
The system may be used to assess Impacts on receiving water, to
review the effectiveness of monitoring programs, to pursue regional
and national comparisons, and to store and retrieve historical data
Sponsor
m
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Topic Buttons
When you're viewing a system's ISI entry, you can display
information on seven topics—one at a time. To display each topic's set
of information, click on one of the white buttons along the right edge
of the screen. The topics, and their corresponding buttons, are:
Abstract
TechEnv
Contact
Other
A narrative description of the system's purpose and main functions.
Information on the system's technical environment—its hardware,
software, and access mode(s).
Information on the data in the system, including purpose for data
collection, general data source, update cycle, and confidentiality.
Information on the EPA organization that developed and/or operates
the system, including the manager, the RPIO, the allowance holder,
and the ICR number.
A citation for the principal statutes or regulations supported by the
system.
A "Rolodex card" with the name, address, and telephone number of
the main contact person for the system.
Additional information on the system, including status, keywords,
subjects, and related systems.
When you click one of the topic buttons, it displays its set of
information and turns from white to black to provide a visual re-
minder of which topic is now showing.
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Topic Headings
The TechEnv, Data, Sponsor, and Other information topics have
multiple headings:
TechEnv Manual/Automated—Whether the system is non-automated
(manual), automated, or exists in both forms.
Software—The data base management system and/or programming
language(s) used.
Hardware—The type(s) of computer the system runs on.
Input—How data entry is routinely accomplished.
Output—How data retrieval is routinely accomplished.
Data Purpose for Data Collection—The principal EPA functions the
system supports.
General Data Source—The original sources from which the system's
data are obtained.
Update Cycle—How often data are entered into the system.
Confidentiality—The restrictions, if any, on access to the system or
portions of its data.
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Sponsor
Manager—The EPA organization officially responsible for the system
(usually the organization with the information management need the
system addresses).
RPIO—The Assistant Administrator level organization the system
serves ("Regional Administrator" if the system is a Regional Office
system only).
Allowance Holder—The Office level organization within the Assis-
tant Administrator/Regional Administrator organization
ICR Number—An EPA-assigned 4-digit number used by the Office of
Policy, Planning, and Evaluation to track information collection
requests. (Not assigned to all systems.)
Other
Status—The system's operational status (Planned, Under Develop-
ment, Operational/Active, Archived/Complete, Inactive/On Hold);
and the system level (Major Agency Information System, Widely
Accessed Information System, Localized Information System, User-
Owned System).
Keywords—Terms describing the system.
Subjects—Additional terms describing the system's contents and
purpose.
Related Systems—EPA and non-EPA automated systems from which
this system obtains data or to which it contributes data.
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Navigation and Utility Buttons
The black buttons along the bottom edge of the screen have the
following functions.
Go to the next entry in the ISI. (See Section 8.)
Go to the previous entry in the ISI. (See Section 8.)
Retrace your steps back through one or more entries you have viewed.
(See Section 7.)
Go to the ISI Index. (See Section 3.)
Display the ISI User Guide. (See Section 5.)
Search all ISI entries for a term you specify. (See Section 6.)
Print selected information for the ISI entry you are now viewing.
(See Section 9.)
Exit the ISI. (See Section 10.)
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Section 5
Getting Help Fast
Two features provide information to help you use the ISI: button
notes and an on-line user guide. The button note feature is described
below, and the on-line user guide is discussed on the following page.
Button Notes
You can get a quick reminder about the function of any button by
holding down the Shift key while you click on the button. A narrow
box will appear on the screen with a brief description of what the
button does (Figure 5). The box will disappear automatically after a
few seconds.
Figure 5.
Shift-click on a button to display
a note about Its function.
SPAMS
Small Purchases Automated Mi nag me nt Sgatem
Manager:
AA-Administration and Resources Management
RPIO:
Asst. Admin, for Administration & Resources Mgmt. (OARM)
Allowance Holder:
Dlr-Admlnlstretlon
ICR Number:
Abstract
TtchEnv
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The On-Line User Guide
Much of this User Guide is included in the ISI itself and can be
accessed and examined from any screen. Click on the black User
Guide button to display the on-line manual. The button will turn
white to indicate that the User Guide is now open. The information
topic displayed in the white window will be replaced by two columns
(Figure 6). The right column contains a few quick pointers. You may
never need anything more detailed than this brief overview.
If you want more detailed information, the column on the left of
the display area contains a numbered list of the sections in the on-line
User Guide. Click on a line in this list to display the text of that section
in the column on the right.
Figure 6.
Click on a topic In the left column
to display the guide's text In the
right coolumn.
Click on atopic button along the right edge to display
that portion of the 1 nformatlon about this system.
Click on a topic belov to dis-
play that section of the User
Guide in the space at the right.
1-What Is the ISI?
2-Using the ISI Index
5-Displaying i nfo on a system
f
-Retracing\»ur steps
Paging forward or back
7-Printing
8-Exiting the ISI
Click on the "User Guide"
button again to close the User
Guide.
For a brief note on any button's function, hold dovn
the Shift key while you click on the button.
Click on the "Find" button below to search for a
stri ng of characters you specify.
Click on the -Quit" button to leave the ISI
Click on this box or the whitened "User Guide"
button to close the User Guide.
In many cases, the text of a section is longer than the space
provided and you need to scroll the display window to find the
information you're looking for. See Section 3 of this manual for
instructions on scrolling.
To close the User Guide and return to the information that was
showing before you opened it, click on the whitened User Guide
button.
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Section 6
Searching the ISI
To search the entire contents of the ISI for a character string you
specify, click on the black Find button at the bottom of the screen. If
you're in the ISI Index, use the Find in ISI button. A box will appear
inviting you to enter your search term (Figure 7). As you type your
characters, they will appear in the narrow text box. Click on the OK
button to begin your search (or simply press the Return key).
Figure 7.
To Initiate a search, click on the
Find button, type your search
term in the box, and click on OK.
Please enter the characters to find:
rlanual/Ai
Software:
Hardware: IBM Logical Mainframe/Other
Input: Batch & Interactive
Output: Batch & Interactive
Data
Sponsor
m
Q
ConUct
Other
If you have already conducted a search during your current ISI
session, your previous search term will be supplied as a default. To
use this same search term again, simply click on the OK button—you
don't have to type the term in again.
The cursor turns into a spinning beachball to let you know that
the search is in progress. When the first occurrence of your search
term is found, it is marked briefly with a black box around the found
characters to draw your attention to the location of this "hit" in the
text.
If your search term does not appear anywhere in the ISI, a note
will appear after a few seconds informing you that there were no hits.
You may wish to verify the spelling of your term in this note to be
sure you didn't mistype when you entered it.
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Finding Additional Occurrences
To find the next occurrence and all succeeding occurrences of the
same term, press the Return key or the Enter key (they both have the
same effect). Each time the term is found, the black box will appear
briefly to draw your eye to the location (Figure 8).
Figure 8.
Occurrences of your search term
are highlighted by a black box.
Press the Return key to find the
next occurrence.
CIHADS
Carcinogen Interaction Hazard Assessment Databases
and Softwares
Status: Operational/Active User-Owned System
Keywords: Environmental Effects; Environmental Releases,
Health Effects; Ground Water; Sediment; Soil, Surface
Water; Biological: HTEHfBHI: Exposure; Drinking Water;
Subjects: AIR
Environmental Data; Emissions; Health Effects
WATER
Effluents; Environmental Data; Groundwater
HAZARDOUS AND SOLID WASTE
Spills; Sludge, Environmental Data
Related
Systems:
ass
fi-f.
Abstract
T«ehEnv
Data
Note that the search function is smart enough to show the correct
information automatically and darken the corresponding topic button
if the next hit is in a different topic area. You find all occurrences of
the term in the text for a single system—even though most of that text
is not displayed at any given time—before you move on to the next
system entry containing the term.
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In this ISI prototype, the "Find" function cannot distinguish
between the system entries and the ISI Index. Therefore, occurrences
of your term in the index lists will also be found and highlighted. If
you do not wish to search the index after landing there, press the
rightward arrow key on your keyboard to move you to the system
entry immediately following the index. Then press the Return key
again to resume your search in the system entries.
The search proceeds through the system entries in order (they are
alphabetized by acronym), beginning with the one you are viewing
when you begin the search. When the end of the alphabetized entries
is reached, the ISI Index is searched, and then the entries alphabeti-
cally preceding the one you started on are searched. This means that
you should NOT assume when you begin finding hits in the ISI Index
that there are no more hits in the system entries. You will only know
you've found all of the hits when you reach the first hit you found—
for the second time.
You can continue searching—and finding—for as long as you
keep pressing the Return key. Once you've gone through all the hits
one time, you'll cycle through a second time, and so on ad infinitum
until you do something else besides hitting Return.
Stopping a Search
To stop a search that's in progress (as indicated by the spinning
beachball cursor), hold down the Command key (also called the Apple
key, next to the space bar) and type a period at the same time. The
search will be terminated, leaving you on the system entry that was
being searched at the time the command to stop was received.
Going Back to the Screen
Where You Began a Search
If your search has produced hits in other portions of the ISI, you
may wish for one reason or another to go straight back to the entry
you were viewing when you began the search. If so, click on the Go
Back button at the bottom of the screen.
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Speeding and Limiting Your Searches
When possible, use two or more
words, or portions of words—
each with at least 3 characters.
Searching time is reduced dramatically when your search term
contains two or more words, or portions of words, and when the first
word in your term contains three characters or more. For example, if
you wish to find occurrences of the term "fish tissue," then it is far
better to enter the full two words as your search term. Using just one
word or the other would slow the search (and probably produce
extraneous hits—see below). Searching on two characters from each
—"sh ti," while it might limit the hits to those you're looking for,
would take significantly longer than using "ish tis."
The search will find occurrences only of the exact string you enter.
It will not find, for example, text fields where "fish" and "tissue" both
occur, though not together.
To reduce the number of extraneous hits your search produces
(hits on words or phrases that contain the letters you entered but are
not of interest to you), enter as many characters as are unique to the
word or phrase you're looking for.
For instance, if you're looking for occurrences of the word
"biomonitoring," best results will come when you search for
"biomon." If you entered only "biom," you would get hits on any
occurrences of "biome" and "biomass" in addition to "biomoni-
toring." If you entered just "bio," you would also stop on all occur-
rences of "biology," "biological," "biotechnology," and so on. And if
you entered just "bi," you would find a wide variety of unwanted hits
such as "big," "billing," and "biweekly."
Conversely, it is possible to overspecify your search term and
thereby fail to find some of the relevant entries in the ISI. For example,
you might search for "carcinogenicity" and find no hits. The less
restrictive term "carcino" would also produce hits on "carcinogen"
and "carcinogenic," both of which may be of interest to you. A more
common term, such as "cancer," might yield still more relevant
information.
Remember that the system abstracts and other topics vary in
length and detail in this version of the ISI. A given search may miss
some relevant systems because the term you assumed would be used
in fact does not appear anywhere in the entries for these systems. Feel
free to experiment with your searches, and be creative.
22
EPA Information Systems Inventory
Macintosh Prototype Edition
-------
Section 7
Retracing Your Steps
Sometimes it's convenient to retrace your steps back to the system
entry you were on just before, or to even go farther back in reverse
order. To do this, click on the Go Back button.
You might use this feature in the following way, for example. In
reading the information on a system, you note that a related system is
listed (in the information set displayed by the Other button). You go
to the ISI Index, look up this system, and go to its entry by clicking on
its acronym in the index list. After reading about this related system,
you want to go straight back to the system entry you were reading
before. Use the Go Back button twice—once takes you back to the
Index, and the second takes you a step further in reverse to the system
you were on when you went to look at the Index.
After you conduct a search and find occurrences of your term in
more than one system entry, the Go Back button will not move you
back through the entries where you had hits. You'll go back to the
entry you were on when you began the search—or to the index, if
thaf s where you started searching.
EPA Information Systems Inventory
Macintosh Prototype Edition
23
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Section 8
Paging Forward or Backward
To move forward or backward through the system entries in the
order in which they are arranged in the data base, use the Next or
Previous button. These buttons move you one screen in either direc-
tion each time you click them.
This feature will be of limited value to most users, since the ISI
Index and the Find button offer highly efficient ways to find a specific
system without looking at any others. On occasion, the Next and
Previous buttons can be useful, though—for example, when you're
interested in a series of systems with acronyms similar enough that
they fall close together in the alphabetical ordering of the ISI entries.
In examining and comparing the entries on these systems, you might
find the directional buttons more convenient than jumping to the
Index to select the next entry to view.
EPA Information Systems Inventory
Macintosh Prototype Edition
25
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Section 9
Printing
The printing feature, invoked by clicking on the Print button, is
not available for this prototype version of the Macintosh ISI. In a
future version, you will be able to print out the text of one or more
topic areas for a specified system.
EPA Information Systems Inventory
Macintosh Prototype Edition
27
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Section 10
Exiting the ISI
To quit your session with the ISI, click on the Quit button in the
lower lefthand corner.
A box may appear, asking you if you wish to "compact" the ISI
files to reclaim some of the disk space you have lost when the ISI, in
the course of normal use, expanded the room it takes up on your hard
disk (Figure 9). Compacting may take 30 seconds or more, but it's a
good idea to do it if the disk space to regain exceeds 10 or 20K. Initiate
the compacting operation by clicking on the Go Ahead button or by
pressing the Return key. Click Not Now to exit immediately without
compacting.
It is not necessary to compact the ISI before exiting if you do not
store the ISI on your hard disk between uses.
Figure 9.
After clicking on the Quit button,
you usually are given the option
of compacting the ISI to free up
some of your hard disk space.
Compact ISI to reclaim 13K of disk space?
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risks associated with chronic releases of radlonuclldes. Atmospheric
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EPA Information Systems Inventory
Macintosh Prototype Edition
29
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Appendix A
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APPENDIX A
THE EPA INFORMATION SYSTEMS INVENTORY RECORD
FIELDNAME
SYSTEM ID:
SYSTEM LEVEL:
DESCRIPTION
Internally generated 8 digit number that uniquely
identifies an inventory record in the system.
Category based on system use and oiticality to the
Agency. There are 4 categories:
(1) Major Agency Information System: An
information system that requires special continuing
management attention because of its importance to an
agency mission; its high development, operating, or
maintenance costs; or its significant impact on
administration of agency programs, finances, property,
or other resources. In this context, a system which
requires obligations of more than $500,000 per year to
maintain or whose software component contains more
than 500,000 lines of code is considered a major
information system.
(2) Widely Accessed Information System: An
information system that is not a Major Agency
Information system, but which significantly supports
accepted program goals and missions and is widely
accessed by a combination of EPA Headquarters,
Regional Offices and/or State and local users and other
Federal agencies.
(3) Localized Information System: An information
system that is not a Major Agency Information System
or Widely Accessed Information System, but which
significantly supports accepted program goals and
missions. It is accessed primarily by users in one major
area, e.g., Headquarters, a singly program, or a Region.
(4) User-Owned System: Unique, stand-alone system
developed to improve efficiency or effectiveness of
operations for a single user or a small group of users.
A-l
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SYSTEM ACRONYM:
SYSTEM NAME:
ORGANIZATION NAME:
NATIONAL PROGRAM
MANAGER CODE:
RPIOCODE:
name.
INSTRUCTION: Add or correct system level. Write in
the number.
Acronym or mnemonic most commonly used to refer
to the system.
INSTRUCTION: Add or correct acronym information.
The field length is 10 characters.
Complete official English language
INSTRUCTION: Correct or complete the system
name. The field length is 160 characters. Do not
abbreviate any part of the name unless it is part of the
exact system name.
Official name of the organization that is responsible for
the system—i.e., has the information requirement that
the system is developed to meet.
INSTRUCTION: Correct or complete the existing
organizational name. Use the Office, Division, Branch
to indicate the responsible organization. Always
abbreviate the Office level and write in the full
Division and Branch level organizational names,
separated by commas. The field length is 160
characters. If there is not sufficient space, then
abbreviate the Division name, then the Branch name
if necessary.
Numeric code that identifies the responsible Assistant
Administrator level organization including all its
Regional Office components.
INSTRUCTION: Add or correct the code using
Appendix B and write in the number.
Numeric code that identifies the Assistant
Administrator organization or the Regional
Administrator level organization.
INSTRUCTION: Add or correct the code using
Appendix B and write in the number.
A-2
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ALLOWANCE HOLDER:
PROGRAM ELEMENT
CODE
RESPONSIBLE PERSON:
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
MAIL CODE:
FIMAS CODE:
CURRENT YEAR
SUPPORT FUNDS:
CURRENT YEAR
TIMESHARE FUNDS:
Numeric code that identifies the Office level
organization within an Assistant
Administrator/Regional Administrator organization.
INSTRUCTION: Add or correct the code using
Appendix B and write in the number.
Field to be deleted during the next update cycle.
Name of the EPA person at the Branch level or its
equivalent, within the organization named above,
who has management rather than technical
responsibility for the system.
INSTRUCTION: Add or correct the name using last
name first, then first name. Use the management
level person at the Branch level or its equivalent Do
not use the name of the technical person responsible
for the system. The field length is 30 characters.
Telephone number, including the area code and FTS
number of the responsible person.
INSTRUCTION: Add or correct the telephone
numbers. Use the area code as well as the FTS
number.
Agency alphanumeric mail code for the responsible
person named above.
INSTRUCTION: Add or correct the mail code, using
the current EPA telephone directory or other more
current source.
Field to be deleted during the next update cycle.
Field to be deleted during the next update cycle.
Field to be deleted during the next update cycle.
A-3
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ICR NUMBER-
AUTHORITY:
PURPOSE OF DATA:
DATA SOURCE:
An EPA internally assigned 4-character number that
tracks information collection requests as required by
the Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation (also
referred to as the Information Collection Budget
number).
INSTRUCTION: Add or correct ICR number. NOTE,
many systems do not have an ICR number.
Statutory authority for the information collection.
INSTRUCTION: Add or correct authority
information. For example, use the title and public law
number. Use up to 3 sources per system. The field
length for law number is 20 characters; the field length
for law title is 254 characters.
Designates the functions supported.
(1) Administrative
(2) Development of Regulations or Standards
(3) Compliance or Enforcement
(4) Trend Assessment
(5) Technology Development
(6) Risk Assessment
(7) Anticipatory/Research
(8) Program Evaluation
(9) Special Study
(10) Analysis
(11) Oversight
(12) Other
INSTRUCTION: Select up to 3 functions from the list
and write in the number(s) In priority order, starting
with the highest priority function as the first selection.
The original sources from which the data within the
system are obtained.
(1) Required Reporting Entities
(2) Other Data Systems
(3) Literature
(4) EPA
(5) Other Government Agencies (Federal, State,
Local)
(6) Other Nongovernment Entities
A-4
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UPDATED CYCLE:
SYSTEM STATUS:
CONFIDENTIALITY:
(7) Other
INSTRUCTION: Add or correct up to 3 sources from
the list and write in the number(s).
Indicates how often the data are entered into the
system.
(1) Daily
(2) Weekly
(3) Biweekly
(4) Monthly
(5) Bimonthly
(6) Quarterly
(7) Semiannually]
(8) Annually
(9) Biannually
(10) Other
INSTRUCTION: Select 1 choice from the list and write
in the number.
The present operational status of the system.
(1) Planned
(2) Under Development
(3) Operational
(4) Archived
INSTRUCTION: Select 1 choice from the list and write
in the number.
Identifies the restrictions, if any, place on the system.
(1) None
(2) Update Restrictions
(3) Access Restrictions
(4) Update/Access Restrictions
(5) Confidential Business Information
INSTRUCTION: Select up to 2 choices from the above
list and write in the number(s).
A-S
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TYPE OF SYSTEM
ACCESS FOR INPUT:
TYPE OF SYSTEM
ACCESS FOR OUTPUT:
TYPE OF COMPUTER:
Identifies how data input is accomplished on a routine
basis.
(1) Batch
(2) Interactive
(3) Batch and Interactive
(4) Other
INSTRUCTION: Select 1 from the above list and write
in the number.
Identifies how data input is accomplished on a routine
basis.
(1) Batch
(2) Interactive
(3) Batch and Interactive
(4) Other
INSTRUCTION: Select 1 from the above list and write
in the number.
The names, including the manufacturer's names and
model numbers of the mainframes, minis, or micros
on which the system operates.
INSTRUCTION: Add or correct computer information
from the list Select up to 3 entries and write in the
number(s).
MANUAL /AUTOMATED: Indicates whether the system is :
(1) Manual
(2) Automated
(3) Manual and Automated
INSTRUCTION: Select 1 choice from the above list
and write in the number.
A-6
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SOFTWARE SYSTEM:
SYSTEM SUBJECT
CLASSIFICATION:
RELATED SYSTEMS:
DATA KEYWORDS:
Identifies the DBMS(s) and/or programming
language(s) in which the system has been
implemented.
INSTRUCTION: Add or correct software information.
The field length is 45 characters. For DBMS systems,
list DBMS first followed by Programming Language
(e.g., AD ABAS, Natural).
Broad subject matter access terms used to describe the
system content.
INSTRUCTION: Add or correct subject terms. There
are 11 broad subject classifications. Select up to 4 and
write in the numbers) found in parentheses. For most
of these broad subject classifications there are also
subclassification terms. Select up to 3 subdassifications
for each broad classification and write in the numbers)
found in parentheses. Use Appendix C to select all
classification terms.
The EPA and non-EPA automated systems from which
data are obtained and to which data are contributed.
INSTRUCTION: Indicate the name of any related
system. The field length is 160 characters.
Keywords that describe data contained in a system by
environmental, chemical, source, receptor, medium,
and other general terms.
(1) Environmental Effects
(2) Environmental Releases
(3) Health Effects
(4) Physical-Chemical Properties
(5) Test/Analysis Method
(6) Transformation Rates
(7) Climate
(8) Groundwater
(9) Sediment
(10) Soil
(11) Surface Water
(12) Biological
(13) Chemical
(14) Compliance
(15) Economic
A-7
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(16) Exposure
(17) Model
(18) Noise
(19) Physical
(20) Body Burden
(21) Drinking Water
(22) Population, Human
(23) Population, Nonhuman
(24) Chemical Use
(25) Discharge Points
(26) Geographic Codes
(27) Geographic Coordinates
(28) Manufacturing
(29) Monitoring (Environmental)
(30) Non-Point Source
(31) Point Source
(32) Processing
(33) Production Volume
(34) Site Characteristics
(35) Storage
(36) Transportation
(37) Treatment/Disposal
INSTRUCTION: Add or correct up to a total of 18 data
keywords. Select keywords from the above list and
write in the number(s), and/or provide any other
unique keywords.
ABSTRACT: A paragraph that describes and defines the system.
INSTRUCTION: Add or correct up to 10 eighty
character lines. The abstract field is a critical source of
system information. The abstract should describe a
system in such a way that a reader can determine its
importance to agency goals as well as the potential use
of a system's information.
A-8
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Appendix B
B-l
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ISI New System Form
System Acronym: Up to 10 characters. System Level - Circle one.
1. Major Agency Information System
2. Widely Accessed Information System
3. Localized Information System
4. User-Owned Information System
System Name: Up to 160 characters. Do not use abbreviate words unless part of official title.
Organization Name: Up to 160 characters in Office, Division, Branch order. Abbreviate Office.
Responsible Person: Person with management Phone No: (
rather than technical responsibility for the system. __« p. Q
Up to 30 characters. Last name first. fiarnone: Jt
Mail Code:
ICR Number: Note: many systems do not have ICR numbers. 4 characters.
Law Number & Law Title: Up to 20 characters for law number, 254 characters for law title.
Law#:
Tjik; ,
Law#:
Title:
Law#:
Title:
Purpose of Data Collection: Select up to 3 purposes and designate their priority with "1" as the
highest priority.
1 Administrative 7 Anticipatory/Research
2 Development of Regulations or Standards 8 Program Evaluation
3 Compliance or Enforcement 9 Special Study
4 Trend Assessment 10 Analysis
5 Technology Development 11 Oversight
6 Risk Assessment 12 Other
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ISI New System Form
Manager Code/RPIO Code/Allowance Holder: Circle the appropriate Manager, RPIO,
and Allowance Holder code from this or the following page. Circle only one from each code type.
Manager Code
I RPIOCode
* * Allowance Holder
10 AA-Research and Development
26 Asst. Admin, for Research and
Development (ORD)
26 AA-Research and Development
60 Dir-Modeling Monitoring Systems
and Quality Assurance
61 Dir-Health Research
62 Dir-Environmental Engineering and
Technology Demonstration
63 Dir-Environmental Processes and
Effects Research
64 Dir-Health and Environmental
Assessment
30 AA-Air and Radiation
27 Asst. Admin, for Air & Radiation (OA&R)
27 AA-Air and Radiation
33 Dir-Radiation Programs
53 Dir-Air Quality Planning and Standards
56 Dir-Mobile Sources
58 Dir-Off Atmosphere and Indoor Air
40 AA-Water
30 Asst. Admin, for Water (OW)
30 AA-Water
23 Dir-Water Enforcement
28 Dir-Water Regulations and Standards
29 Dir-Municipal Pollution Control
40 Dir-Drinking Water
86 Dir-Ground Water
87 Dir-Marine and Estuarine Management
89 Wetlands
Manager Code
I RPIOCode
* f Allowance Holder
50 AA-Administration and Resources
Management
16 Asst. Admin, for Administration &
Resources Mgmt. (OARM)
16 AA-Administration and Resources
Management
42 Comptroller
51 Dir-Administration
57 Dir-Administration-SLUC
52 Dir-Administration-Cincinnati
54 Dir-Administration-RTP
55 Dir-Information Resources
Management
85 Dir-Office of Human Resources
Management
55 AA-External Affairs
15 Asst. Admin for External
Affairs (OEA)
15 External Affairs (OEA)
60 Administrator/Staff
11 Administrator/Staff (ADM/Staff)
11 Administrator/Staff Offices
65 Inspector General
35 Inspector General (OIG)
35 Inspector General
70 AA-Pesticides and Toxic Substances
20 Asst. Admin, for Pesticides and Toxic
Substances (OPTS)
20 AA-Pesticides and Toxic
Substances
32 Dir-Pesticides Program
69 Dir-Toxic Substances
71 Association AA-Toxic Integration
83 Dir-Compliance Monitoring
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ISI New System Form
Manager Code/RPIO Code/Allowance Holder: Circle the appropriate Manager, RPIO,
and Allowance Holder code from this or the previous page. Circle only one from each code type.
Manager Code
I RPIO Code
* * Allowance Holder
75 AA-Solid Waste and Emergency Response
75 Asst. Admin, for Solid Waste &
Emergency Response (OSWER)
75 AA-Solid Waste and Emergency
Response
81 Dir-Waste Programs Enforcement
31 Dir-Solid Waste
72 Dir-Emergency and Remedial
Response
88 Office of Underground Storage
Tanks
80 AA-Enforcement
77 Asst. Admin, for Enforcement (OE)
77 AA-Enforcement
50 Dir-National Enforcement
Investigations Center - Denver
36 Dir-Federal Activities
85 General Counsel
39 General Counsel (OGC)
39 General Counsel
90 AA-Policy, Planning, and Evaluation
41 Asst. Admin, for Policy, Planning and
Evaluation (OPPE)
41 AA-Policy, Planning, and Evaluation
43 Dir-Policy Analysis
44 Dir-Standards and Regulations
45 Dir-Management Systems and
Evaluation
Manager Code
I RPIO Code
Allowance Holder
xx For each system use the appropriate
Manager Code that identifies the
responsible Assistant Administrator level
organization.
1 Region 1 Boston
1 Region 1 Boston
2 Region 2 New York
2 Region 2 New York
3 Region 3 Philadelphia
3 Region 3 Philadelphia
4 Region 4 Atlanta
4 Region 4 Atlanta
5 Region 5 Chicago
5 Region 5 Chicago
6 Region 6 Dallas
6 Region 6 Dallas
7 Region 7 Kansas City
7 Region 7 Kansas City
8 Region 8 Denver
8 Region 8 Denver
9 Region 9 San Francisco
9 Region 9 San Francisco
20 Region 10 Seattle
10 Region 10 Seattle
80 Regions Total
90 Regions Total
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ISI New System
Source of Data: Circle up to 3 sources.
1 Required Reporting Entities
2 Other Data Systems
3 Literature
4 EPA
5 Other Government Agencies (Federal,
State, Local)
6 Other Nongovernment Entities
7 Other
Update Cycle: Circle 1 cycle from the list
1 Daily
2 Weekly
3 Biweekly
4 Monthly
5 Bimonthly
6 Quarterly
7 Semiannually
8 Annually
9 Biannually
10 Other
System Status: Circle 1 status from the list
1 Planned
2 Under Development
3 Operational/Active
4 Archived/Completed
5 Inactive/On Hold
Confidentiality: Circle up to 2 items.
1 None
2 Update Restrictions
3 Access Restrictions
4 Update/Access Restrictions
5 Confidential Business Information
6 Privacy Act Sensitive
7 Internal EPA Use Only
8 Publicly Available
Access for Input: Circle 1 input method.
1 Batch
2 Interactive
3 Batch & Interactive
4 Other
Access for Output: Circle 1 output method
1 Batch
2 Interactive
3 Batch & Interactive
4 Other
Computer Type: Circle up to 3 computers.
1 IBM 3090
2 IBM PC
3 IBM Logical Mainframe/Other
4 PRIME
5 DEC 11/70
6 DEC 11/780
7 SPERRY1100/82
8 Other
9 Apple Macintoth
Manual/Automated: Circle 1 item.
1 Manual
2 Automated
3 Manual & Automated
Software System: DBMS(s) and/or programming language(s). For DBMS list DBMS first,
followed by programming language. Up to 45 characters.
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ISI New System Form
Classification: Describes system content. Circle up to 4 of the 11 broad subject classifications
and up to 3 subclassifications for each classification.
Classification
I Subclassification
1 AIR
1 Facilities, Municipal
2 Facilities, Industrial
3 Mobile Source
4 Environmental Data
5 Models
6 Reporting/Assessment
7 Emissions
8 Treatment
9 Health Effects
10 Testing Data
2 WATER
1 Drinking Water
2 Facilities, Municipal
3 Facilities, Industrial
4 Construction Grants
5 Models
6 Effluents
7 Environmental Data
8 Reporting/Assessment
9 Treatment
10 Spills
11 Groundwater
12 Aquatic Biology
3 RADIATION
4 HAZARDOUS AND SOLID WASTE
1 Spills
2 Emergency Response
3 Site
4 Sludge
5 Environmental Data
6 Reporting/Assessment
7 Treatment
8 Models
9 Disposal
10 Transportation
11 Health Effects
12 Waste Management
13 Facilities, Waste Gen.
Classification
I Subclassification
5 PESTICIDES AND TOXIC
SUBSTANCES
1 Pesticides Specific
2 Toxic Specific
3 Industry Reporting
4 Health Effects
5 Inspection
6 Testing Data
7 Chemical
8 Model
6 NOISE
7 ADMINISTRATIVE
1 Personnel and Payroll
2 Grants and Contracts
3 Library and Bibliographic
4 Correspondence
5 Budget
6 Accounting
7 Office Automation
8 Financial Management
9 Property Management
10 ADP Management
11 Management Systems
8 ENFORCEMENT AND COMPLIANCE
1 Monitoring
2 Permits
3 Docket
9 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
1 Health Effects
2 Models
3 Laboratory Systems
4 Quality Control
5 Environmental Data
10 STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS
11 POLICY, PLANNING, AND
EVALUATION
1 Policy Analysis
2 Evaluation
3 Economics
4 Models
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ISI New System Form
Related Systems: Provide -u- name(s) of related systems (up to 160 characters).
Keywords: Circle up to 18 keywords from list and/or provide unique keywords.
1 Environmental Effects
2 Environmental Releases
3 Health Effects
4 Physical-Chemical Properties
5 Test/Analysis Method
6 Transformation Rates
7 Climate
8 Ground Water
9 Sediment
10 Soil
11 Surface Water
12 Biological
13 Chemical
14 Compliance
15 Economic
16 Exposure
17 Model
18 Noise
19 Physical
20 Body Burden
21 Drinking Water
22 Population, Human
23 Population, Nonhuman
24 Chemical Use
25 Discharge Points
26 Geographic Codes
27 Geographic Coordinates
28 Manufacturing
29 Monitoring
30 Non-Point Source
31 Point Source
32 Processing
33 Production Volume
34 Site Characteristics
35 Storage
36 Transportation
37 Treatment/Disposal
Abstract: Provide a short paragraph (of up to 800 characters) that defines the system.
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