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 ------- 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 ------- 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. ------- 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 ------- § \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. Recycled/Recyclable Printed on paper lhat oonral M butt 75% racydcd fiber r\ O) Printed on paper lhal contains ------- 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. ------- |