United States Office of Environmental EPA250-F-01-002
Environmental Protection Information January 2002
Agency (2822) www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm
Office of Environmental Information
&EPA Environmental
Fact Sheet
EPA DOCKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE
The Environmental Protection Agency is announcing the creation of an
electronic docket system designed to greatly expand public access to EPA's
regulatory dockets and support materials. This Regulatory Public Access System
(RPAS) will allow the public to search for and retrieve published dockets and
documents and submit comments via the Web. Four EPA Headquarters offices
are participating in RPAS: the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, the
Office of Water, the Office of Air and Radiation and the Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxic Substances. Additional Headquarters' dockets will
participate in RPAS later this year.
BACKGROUND
In 1996, EPA conducted a survey to assess customers' information needs. Survey respondents
expressed a desire for electronic access to docket materials and the ability to search across EPA
programs for supporting documentation. As a result of the survey, EPA initiated a Dockets Business
Process Reengineering and Modernization Study which led to the development and implementation of
RPAS.
All dockets established after the deployment of RPAS will be electronically available to the public in full
text format. As resources allow, EPA will include all relevant docket materials that were previously
submitted by the public and EPA regulatory staff. RPAS will be compliant with Section 508 of the
Americans With Disabilities Act.
EPA also plans to consolidate all the dockets into a "Combined Docket Facility" in 2002. This new
facility will be in Washington, D.C. and offer state-of-the art technology, security and comfort for the public
community seeking regulatory information. Prior to the opening of the Consolidated Docket Facility, EPA
will announce the facility's address and phone number.
ACCESSING RPAS
The RPAS home page at www. epa. gov/rpas is the starting point from which users may perform
docket searches, submit comments, and use the RPAS Help feature. Users may use either a "Quick
Search" or "Advanced Search" function to locate dockets and docket materials. The "Submit Comment"
screen enables the public to electronically comment on a particular docket. RPAS' online "Help" is
designed to assist the user in utilizing the system effectively. "Help" can be used by selecting a topic
from a list of Help Topics or by specifying a particular action; i.e., search for dockets or documents;
submit a comment. Users can also contact Geoff Steele at 202-260-5636 or at steele.geoff@epa.gov
if they have difficulty in accessing RPAS.
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DOCKET POLICIES
Recently, EPA developed a policy stating that comments submitted to Agency Headquarters rulemaking
dockets will be publicly available on the EPA Web site. This policy includes the following provisions that are
applicable to RPAS.
1. EPA will make public all information submitted in the body of a comment, including the physical
address (i.e., street, city, state) or email address of the submitter if the submitter chooses to include
that information in the body of the text.
2. RPAS is designed so that a Disclaimer notice to Comment Submitters will appear on the user's
screen, and the user must agree to the notice before access to RPAS is granted.
3. Any physical objects sent to the docket will be documented and described. This description will be in
the e-docket.
4. No Confidential Business Information will be in the e-docket.
5. As with a written comment, a comment received via RPAS will be made available to EPA staff in
relation to the rule for which it was submitted.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information, contact the appropriate docket at:
RCRA Docket Air Docket
Phone:703-603-9230 Phone:202-260-7549
Email: rcra-docket@epa.gov Email: a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov
UST Docket Water Docket
Phone: 703-603-9230 Phone: 202-260-7549
Email: rcra-docket@epa.gov Email: OW-Docket@epa.gov
Superfund Docket Pesticides Docket ;
Phone:703-603-9232 Phone:703-305-5805
Email: superfunddocket@epa.gov Email: opp-docket@epa.gov ;
Toxics Docket
Phone:202-260-7099
Email: oppt-ncic@epamail.epa.gov
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