HELP
WHERE TO FIND
MORE
For additional information about
EFIN in LEGISNET, call or write any
of the following NCSL staff:
Larry Morandi
Steve Graff
Jo Martinez
Pam Greenberg
National Conference
of State Legislatures /
1560 Broadway, Suite 700
Denver, Colorado 80202
(303) 830-2200
You can also contact the
USEPA EFIN Manager:
Resource Management Division
USEPA (H-3304)
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
(202) 260-0420
Printed on Recycled Paper
nvironmental
'inancing
nformation
letwork
A Database and Contact Service
United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Office of Water
&EPA
National Conference of
State Legislatures
linn
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Environmental Financing Information Network: Helping
STATES' NEEDS
The states' role in maintaining
environmental quality has grown to
fund programs for:
EFIN IS:
wastewater treatment
public water supply
nonpoint source management
wetlands, estuaries, and groundwater protection
solid waste management
air quality management
state grants and loans ,.
local and small community technical assistance
FINANCING OPTIONS
States are adopting creative alterna-
tives to general fund appropriations
to pay for program administration
and capital expenditures:
user fees
service charges
discharge permit fees
waste generator taxes
dedicated taxes
tax form check offs
bond proceeds
FILLING THE NEED-
DATABASE
-NEW
EFIN
The National Conference of State
Legislatures (NCSL) has expanded its
national legislative infonnation
network - LEGISNET - into a new
source for comprehensive informa-
^^^^^^^^ tion on environmental financing
issues. The Environmental Financing Infonnation
Network (EFIN) was developed by the U.S. Environmen-
tal Protection Agency (EPA) and made available to
LEGISNET under a cooperative agreement with NCSL.
A database containing information on
funding alternatives for state and local
environmental programs and projects.
A national network that refers users to:
experts in environmental programs and
public financing
additional sources of help and
information
EFIN IN LEGISNET HELPS YOU:
Establish and support environmental
programs
Identify sources and methods to raise funds
and lower funclraising costs
Locate and order documents
Identify upcoming events, conferences, training
sessions, seminars, and workshops
" Discover grants and low-cost loans from
state and federal governments
Save money by reducing costs to build and
maintain environmental infrastructure
i
( Access models of user charge systems and
rate structures
^ Identify pertinent state or federal legislation,
studies, reports and environmental needs
assessments
^ Identify successful public-
private partnership
funding arrangements
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Environmental Financing Information Network
Kci
iml=2%-l
I7IP
EFIN DATA
The following abstract illustrates the
type of information contained in the
system.
Record = 296-EFIP
Keywords = Drinking Water; Alternative Financing
Mechanisms; Water Quality; Funding; Fees; '['axes;
Appropriations; Finance; Virginia; State
/
Title = Alternative Methods for Financing The'Adminis-
trative Requirements of The Safe Drinking Water Act in
Virginia
Description = During fiscal years (FY) 1991-1994, the
implementation of the 1986 Safe Drinking Water Act
Amendments in Virginia will require over $18 million in
new state funds, also 93-5 full-time equivalent positions
(FTEs) during FY 1991, and 20 more FTEs in FY 1993.
This report focuses on the additional Virginia resources
needed and presents several funding alternatives:
a waterworks constaiction permit/plan review fee, an
annual waterworks operational permit fee, a water use/
hdrawal fee, a waterworks inspection/sanitary survey
, repeal of the drinking water sales tax exemption,
and a water utility tax.
Author = Virginia Department of Health
Publication = 31 Pages
Publisher = Richmond, VA, Department Of Health
Date = 1990
v,
Ordering Information = National Conference Of State
Legislatures, 1560 Broadway, Suite 700, Denver,
Colorado 80202, (303) 830-2200
ACCESS EFIN THROUGH
LEGISNET
You need only a computer equipped
with a modem and a communications
software package to access LEGISNET.
and EFIN. Once you dial into the
LEGISNET system and EFIN database,
you can search for information in
three fields:
ID The EFIN document number ("Record" and
"Title")
KEY The keywords assigned to each document
("Keywords")
TEXT The text portion of each document
(complete abstract)
OBTAIN COPIES
NCSL maintains a hard copy on file of
each document which lists NCSL as
the ordering source. LEGISNET
subscribers can receive photocopies
for the cost of reproduction and
mailing, or be referred to the original
source for procurement.
Use your computer and printer to download to your
own disk and print out copies of abstracts And contact
profiles.
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States Fund Environmental Needs
EFIN CONTAINS:
m
Abstracts of Publications -
Summaries of reports, papers,
articles, state and federal funding
program descrip-tions, and other
issuances, including:
publication date and publisher
content description
ordering infomiation
available cost data
Case Studies - A database of case
study examples of successful environ-
mental funding methods for state
programs or local projects. The
summaries highlight:
type of program or project
innovative financing or cost saving procedure
amount raised or saved
who did it, and where
publication/contact information
Directory of Contacts - A list of
representatives from federal, state and
local governments that you may
contact to answer your specific
funding or program related questions.
You can search by name, organiza-
tion or other identifier. Each direc-
tory profile provides:
name, address and phone number
program or affiliation
area of expertise
**" V News and Announcements - The
most current news and details on
environmental funding issues,
including:
bulletin board items
federal grant announcements
keyword in context (KW1C) directory of terms
related national developments
Calendar - A comprehensive list of
national conferences, training semi-
nars, and workshops. The calendar
provides:
event date and time
summary of activities
cost to attend
contact names and phone numbers
Hotline - A telephone service to
answer or refer questions and
provide a link to the EFIN Center
and other USEPA databases, clearing-
houses, and hotlines providing
technical assistance and. information:
National Drinking Water Hotline
Pollution Prevention Infomiation
Clearinghouse
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§
\m.
*. UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
\
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460
PLMG/PROGRAM
M3AUG23 PI2-33
9 1993 INTEGRATION
ADMINISTRATION
AND RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT
MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Access to Environmental Financing Information Network (EFIN)
FROM: George Ames, Chief ( T^>j.>-r
Environmental Finance Branch
TO: Environmental Finance Coordinators
' I am pleased to announce that the Environmental Financing Information Network
(EFIN) is now available to all EPA Regional Office employees. You can access EFIN
from your desk by simply logging into the EPA Online Library System (OLS). I have
attached information that should be helpful to you in accessing EFIN:
- EFIN Logon Procedure (orange sheet)
- EFIN brochure
- EFIN fact sheet
As discussed in the fact sheet, EFIN is an on-line data base that provides you
with information on financing alternatives for State and local environmental programs
and projects. Through EFIN, you can access abstracts of publications, phone numbers
and addresses of financial and program experts, and listings of available EPA
publications.
./
I believe that EFIN will be very helpful to you when handling inquiries within the
Regional Offices, as well as from State and local governments. In the future, we plan to
link EFIN with our Environmental Finance Centers.
EFIN is managed by our Environmental Finance Program. If you have any
questions regarding EFIN, please call Kathryn Pease (EPA Contractor) at (202) 260-
0420 or Vera Hannigan of my staff at (202) 260-6685.
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ENVIRONMENTAL FINANCING INFORMATION NETWORK (EFIN)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) opened the Environmental
Financing Information Network (EFIN) to the public on October 1, 1991.
Services
EFIN provides information on financing alternatives for state and local
environmental programs and projects primarily in the form of abstracts of
publications, case studies, and contacts. EFIN services include an online
database, hotline, and distribution of EPA publications pertaining to
financing.
EFIN case studies and abstracts outline successful financing alternatives, while
its contact profiles refer users to financial and program experts (e.g.,
government officials) who have general or particular experience in public
financing and environmental programs. The bulletin board directs users to
compatible clearinghouses and hotlines and transmits news, announcements,
and conferences pertinent to environmental financing.
Intended users are state and local officials and those assisting them. Potential
users helped plan EFIN.
Access
o EFIN services are accessed through electronic information systems that
currently meet state and local officials' information needs. These systems are
the Local Exchange (LEX), operated by Public Technology, Inc. (202/626-
2400); LEGISNET, operated by the National Conference of State Legislatures
(303/830-2200); and the Government Finance Information Network (GF-
NET), operated by the Government Finance Officers Association (312/977-
9700). EFIN is also directly accessible via modem by dialing 919/549-0720 or
through the Internet at EPAIBM.RTPNC.EPA.GOV.
Background o
EFIN is managed by EPA's Environmental Finance Program within the
Resource Management Division of the Office of Administration and
Resources Management (OARM). The EPA Office of Water first established
EFIN as part of EPA efforts to improve state and local government capability
to implement environmental programs and projects. Several programs helped
plan EFINthe State Revolving Fund, Small Community Outreach and
Education (SCORE), the Environmental Finance Program (e.g., public-private
partnerships), drinking water, solid waste, air, and Superfund.
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