Office of Administration and Resources Management
INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT DIVISION
     MANAGEMENT REVIEW
                 OF
EPA BULLETIN BOARD SYSTEMS
          Environmental Protection Agency
   Andrew W. Briedenbach Environmental Research Center
             Cincinnati, Ohio 45268
              September 27,1990

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                        Table of Contents

     Management Summary
1.0  Purpose of BBS Review
2.0  Background and History of Bulletin Board Systems
3.0  Scope
     3.1  Bulletin Boards in General
     3.2  Bulletin Boards in the Federal Government
     3.3  Bulletin Boards in EPA
4.0  Methodology of Collecting Information
     4.1  Interviews
     4.2  Surveys
     4.3  Literature Research
     4.4  On-line Testing
5.0  Findings
     5.1  Numerical Summaries
     5.2  Bulletin Board Operating Software/Hardware Configuration
6.0  Conclusion
7.0  Recommendations
References
Appendices
     A.   Distribution List For This Report
     B.   Bulletin Board Questionnaires
     C.   Selected BBS Logon Sessions and work papers

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                        Management  Summary

     The first electronic bulletin board originated in 1978 with
a single phone line.  Today,  there are estimates of 30-100 thousand
- the  largest having  150  phone lines  and receiving  3000 calls
daily.  But that is not EPA.

     The  Electronic  Bulletin  Boards  within  the  Environmental
Protection Agency generally are mission oriented and geared toward
a unique subject  such  as air,  water,  hazardous waste,  superfund,
computer support,  etc.  There are currently 15  PC  based bulletin
boards in EPA. In addition,  there  is  a  bulletin board  on the VAX
Cluster  and another  15 bulletin  boards  on  the  Prime Computer
accessed through Email. All are covered in this review.

     BBS's are not a well  known facet within  EPA.  In researching
this report, most BBS's were located by communicating directly with
known Sysops (system operators). The WIC and Region III Information
Centers were also able to provide leads.

     Bulletin Boards within EPA represent a  changing scenario. Some
BBS will spawn new BBS while  another will change  its  name after
expanding both in function and hardware configuration. A searchable
database on the mainframe computer is frequently referred to as a
bulletin board without messaging capability.  There  are numerous
searchable databases on the mainframe which is beyond the scope of
this review.

     The greatest  inconsistency shows in the  variety of bulletin
board  software  and -the techniques for achieving multiple line
access  (multiple  pc's  linked,  multiple slave cards, or one card
with multiple communication ports). The agency currently supports
expertise  in  each  of these  areas  in order to  maintain  the
individual bulletin boards.

      Bulletin  Boards  outside EPA  are indeed proliferic.  The
commercial bulletin boards are  sophisticated with menus of artistic
design  including  graphical  screen  layout  and  color. A "windows"
style environment is presented by these commercial BBS's. They are
more  user  friendly  than  most  EPA  BBS's  which  present  the
hobbyist/hacker style environment.

     Although initial  contact  is crude, the  EPA bulletin boards
distribute  information  and  provide interactive communications on
highly  professional  and scientific subjects  oriented  to support
the EPA Mission.  These BBS's  could be considered  as "robot" hot
lines,   libraries,  and  dockets providing services  for specialty
areas.

     The minimum  cost/configuration  includes  a part time system
operator, a personal computer,  shareware software and a phone line.
The maximum cost  include a  full time  sysop, a personal computer,
multiple line software, communication boards,  and  multiple phone
lines.

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     Cost effectiveness is achieved in manpower saved from manual
distribution of documents or diskettes through the postal system.
Timeliness and adherence to the Paper Reduction Act are additional
benefits.

     Electronic distribution of documentation, notices of meetings,
and software updates through bulletin boards provides benefits of:

          Planning and adhering to tighter schedules.

          Informing and being responsive to the public.

          Maintaining an equilibrium  of the EPA knowledge base.

          Faster communication.

          Manpower savings.

          Paper reduction.

          Distribution of  environmental  data (research findings,
          methods, procedures, and regulations).

     For the convenience of the management  summary, conclusions
and recommendations are repeated.

     Conclusion:
     The Agency bulletin board systems are supporting an essential
     need of communicating internally and with clients to keep them
     updated  on strategic  information.  At  this date, there are
     approximately 30 active bulletin boards on PC/VAX/Prime. They
     primarily support unique  environmental related projects. They
     are independently controlled representing Sysop expertise in
     a variety of software and hardware configuration. Assuming EPA
     follows  the  same  pattern as the  world,  EBBS's will  continue
     to grow  in usage and number.

     Recommendation:
     It  is  recommended that an EPA Agency Standard  be developed
     for  EPA Electronic  Bulletin  Boards.  This standard  should
     include  guidelines for  hardware,   software,  configuration,
     professional  menu  interfaces  as  well  as operational  and
     security standards.  Responsibility for enforcing  this standard
     should  be  assigned.  The  support group  should also  have the
     responsibility   of   approving   new  bulletin  boards   and
     maintaining  directory records on all  existing EPA  BBS.  An
     Email  box  for all  EPA BBS  Sysops would be  one recommended
     avenue  for communicating.

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     The EPA  bulletin boards  located on personal  computers are
listed here. Also listed is the VAXTM1 located on the Digital Vax
minicomputer on the VAX  Cluster.  More information on each can be
found in Section 3.3 and Appendix B.


     PINBBS - Pesticide Monitoring Inventory, Crystal City, VA.
     (formerly the PMI BBS)

     LAHBSS - Lan Administrator technical information, RTP, NC.

     ORDBBS  -  Research  and  Development  in  support  of  water
     pollution  prevention,  Cincinnati,  Ohio  (formerly  Silver
     Springs, MD.).

     TT8BB8 - EHSL  software  distribution, Cincinnati, Ohio, (BBS
     discontinued Aug., 1990, and function merged with ORDBBS).

     U8EPA  -  General  Purpose,  PC Contracts, PC  Printer Drivers,
     Toxic Waste, Washington, DC.

     TBBS    - Regulatory  Models  in  support  of air  pollution
     prevention, RTP, NC.  (formerly the SCRAMBBS).

     AMRB - Applied Modeling  Research models of non regulatory
     nature  in support  of  air pollution  prevention,  RTP,  NC.
     (formerly UNIMAP BBS).

     NSRBBS -  New Source  Review construction permit program in
     support of air quality control, RTP, NC.

     OSWERBBS - Solid and Hazardous Waste  regulation, permits, and
     enforcement; Washington, DC.

     PIES - Pollution Prevention Information Information Exchange
     System  (Federal  and  Industry),  grants,  legislation,  etc.,,
     Washington, DC. (formerly EIES).

     AQMDBBS - Air Quality State Implementation Plans, RTP, NC.

     CEAM  -  Water  quality  &  Hydrological model  distribution,
     Athens, Ga.

     COLIS  -   Computer  OnLine  Information  System  for  RREL
     treatability database  and site support, Edison, N.J.

     SWICH  -  Solid  Waste  Information  Clearing House,  Silver
     Springs, D.C.

     DATAPORT - Superfund  Removal Cost Management System,  OSWER,
     Edison, N.J.

     VAZTM1 - GIS and DEC VAX Computer technical information, RTP,
     NC.

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EPA bulletin  boards found on  the  Prime Dialcon  System which is
physically located  in Washington,  DC.  and accessed  through the
EMAIL POST, PRPOST, or Tradepost are:
     GI8NET - Geographic Information System network.
     BPACBD - Commerce Business Daily EPA Announcements
     8FBB - Superfund Contracting Information Bulletin Board  (for
     validated users)
     OCMTEL - OCM Telephone Directory
     OAR - Office of Air and Radiation Telecommunication System
     8DC - Systems Development Center Bulletin Board
     TITLE3 - Emergency Planning & Community Right To Know
     RCRI8 - Resource Conservation  and Recovery Information System
     EQUIPMENT - ORD Equipment Exchange (validated user)
     EPA-BRS - Biennial Reporting System (empty)
     CHEM - EPA's Right-to-know Chemical Database
     ZRI8 - Integrated Risk Information System
     BOATS -Electronic Catalog Training System
     EMAILNEWS - News from Email, Hqtrs, RTF, Cinci, and Prime
     POST  -  Access  to  general  purpose DIALCOM  bulletin boards
     having international readers  (sysop and social usage)
     PRPOST - Private EPA Bulletins posted  for specific categories
     (little usage during prior six months)

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2.0  Background and History of Bulletin Boards

     A Bulletin Board System is "a computer system that functions
     as a  centralized information  source and message switching
     system for  a particular interest  group.  Users dial  up the
     bulletin board, review and leave messages for other users as
     well as communicate to other users  on the system  at the same
     time.  Bulletin boards may provide access, or doors, to other
     application programs." This  definition  from Alan Freedman's
     Computer  Glossary,   1990,  reflects  the historic usage  of
     bulletin boards. However, the "access...to other application
     programs" has  become  the  doorway  for  the  high  technology
     advancement found in today's BBS which are used to manage the
     distribution of strategic  information  both commercial  and
     federal. Today's BBS have automated database  indices allowing
     search strategies as well as the original BBS message centers.

     Electronic  Bulletin  Boards  have  moved out  of  the  hacker
     business and into the legitimate  businesses.  Businesses in
     various fields  have  found that BBS's are tools which work well
     for  communicating  internally   and  for communicating  with
     clients/customers.

     Three basic types of electronic BBS are (1)  specialty boards
     concentrating  on one  or more  related  topics,  (2)  general
     public access  boards providing notices on  a wide range of
     topics,  and (3)  national  boards  allowing  specialized  and
     general  message  systems.   Topics   are  unlimited  and  have
     included computer software  support,  pet owners,  and stocks.
     Usages  include information distribution, customer support,
     contracting, catalogue ordering, student education, marketing,
     library on-line catalogues, and classified advertising.

     Disseminating environmental information is also accomplished
     through  libraries,   dockets,  hotlines  and  clearinghouses.
     Electronic bulletin boards are a media currently utilized by
     hotlines and clearinghouses and  are functionally feasible for
     dockets  to  utilize.  In  September,  1989,  Booze-Allen  &
     Hamilton, Inc.  completed a  report  on "Management Assessment
     of Clearinghouses,  Electronic Bulletin  Boards,  Hotlines and
     Dockets". Their definitions are given as:

          Electronic  Bulletin  Boards  -  A  means  for  posting
          information for electronic access.

          Clearinghouses  - A  consolidated  reference   source  on
          subject specific information  providing  reference  and
          referrals.

          Dockets - An official  legal file of rule-making actions.

          Hotlines  - A point of contact  for external  parties to
          ask technical or general questions.

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     Looking at  world-wide  general usage  and environment,  the
     original BBS's  have grown  from small,  single-line dial-in
     services run by  hobbyists into large  corporate  run systems
     with thousands of files  and multiple phone lines. The history
     of  EBBS is  traced from  its  beginnings in  1978  with  the
     computerized  bulletin  board   system   through  today  with
     estimates of 30,000 world-wide  as can be  seen in this partial
     chart.
          Number of Bulletin Boards Available

     Date           Nationally     Government     EPA

     1978             >l'
     1983           800            <5,
     1987                          242            2
     1988           5,000*
     1990           30,000                        30
       The first electronic bulletin board was started in 1978 by
Ward  Christensen and  Randy  Suess.  Softside.  L.  Micklus,  "The
Electronic Bulletin Board", March, 1983.

     2 Brock  N.  Meeks,  "Government  Operated  Bulletin  Boards",
Profiles.  1987.

     3 There were  5000 BBS in the U.S.  in 1988, the national figure
could not be found.  Network World. Bob Brown, "Electronic Bulletin
Board Operators Risk Libel  Suits: Laws  Have Yet To Catch Up With
Technology", June 20, 1988.

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3.0  SCOPE
     In order to objectively look at the BBS status within EPA, it
     is essential to be aware of the world-wide picture. Where is
     the technology nationally and in other federal agencies? This
     section will provide some snapshots of BBS activities in those
     areas for comparison with EPA BBS. In addition to comparison,
     many of these snapshots are BBS which can be used to support
     EPA.

     3.1  Bulletin Boards in General

          Today,  electronic  bulletin  boards  have  expanded  to
          include   sophisticated   file-transfer   capabilities,
          security options, and  a means  for  businesses, academic
          institutions  and special interest  groups to exchange
          information. Corporations are using electronic bulletin
          boards to keep staff  in the  field  updated on strategic
          information, with a variety of security methods used to
          keep the  information away from those  without official
          access.

          The world's largest public BBS  is the  EXEC PC Board in
          Shoreham, Wisconsin, with 150 phone lines which averages
          3,000 calls daily.1

          Canada Remote  Systems BBS,  the world's  second largest
          public BBS,  evolved from a  single  line in  1981  to 74
          lines today. It has  7500 members, 100,000 on-line files,
          127 message areas and receives 1000 calls per day.2

          Several  computer software companies  utilize bulletin
          boards to  provide customer  service. WordPerfect  Corp.
          has a bulletin board usable by anyone with a registered
          WP software license number. It contains printer drivers,
          soft fonts for laser printers and DOS memory utilities.
          The WP BBS phone number is (801)255-4414.

          In the midst of the political  upheaval in Eastern Europe,
          the first computer bulletin board in the Soviet Union was
          established. It began operating  in December,  1989 in the
          Estonian city of Tallinn and has been besieged by calls
          from around the word.

          GTSI has a bulletin board, (703)  631-3463, which contains
          a software upgrade  center and  detail  specifications on
          new computer  products such  as the IBM PS/2  models 70P
          (laptop) and models 55Z SX,  etc.

          TriState Online,  a  bulletin  board for Cincinnati Bell
          Telephone  Co.,  and modeled  after  a Cleveland  system,
          offers a wide  range of community  information including
          libraries,  fine  arts,   government,   recreation,   and
          universities. It represents a well developed system with

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a user friendly interface and is free to the public.
Prodigy,  a  commercial  system,  represents  the  most
advanced bulletin board system.  It is user friendly, has
windowing  techniques   (screens  within  screens),  and
provides a gauntlet of services  -  up-to-date world news,
stock prices,  merchandise ordering, tutoring  - all in
addition to the standard features of a BBS.

Heckler publishes a "National Directory of Bulletin Board
Systems  1990"  which is currently on order by the EPA
AWBERC Library. It is edited by Patrick R. Dewey. He also
authors "Essential Guide to Bulletin Board Systems" which
provides  a  detailed  overview of  what it  takes  to
establish and run an electronic  bulletin  board.  The U.S.
Department  of  Commerce in  1986  published  "Electronic
Bulletin Boards". Authored by Ted Landberg,  it also gives
instructions on setting up and running a  bulletin board.

Other bulletin boards of note extracted  from Boardwatch
Magazine  include:  (their complete  list  is   found  in
Appendix C.)

     Eesti BBS #1  (First BBS in USSR)    7 0142  422583
     Exec-PC
     (Largest BBS in World, 150 lines)

     Canada Remote Systems
     (Largest BBS in Canada, 74 lines)

     Federal Job Information Center

     FEDLINK ALIX (Federal Libraries)

     Microlink B (USA Today News)
(414)789-4210



(416)232-0442



(313)226-4423


(202)287-9656


(303)972-9600
     Ward and Randy's CBBS (oldest BBS) (312)545-8086

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3.2  Bulletin Boards in the Federal Government

     GSA's Information Resources Management  Services (IRMS)
     Center runs a bulletin board from Washington, D.C.  This
     BBS allows GSA to distribute IRMS procurement policies,
     lists of debarred contractors,  and information on sharing
     federal  data  processing   resources.    The  equipment
     includes an  80386  workstation with two  attached 80286
     workstations for additional ports and processing power.
     Each have 3 MB of memory and run on software from CTUS.

     The  U.S.  Department  of Commerce,  National Bureau  of
     Standards has  a EBBS  called Microcomputer Electronic
     Information Exchange (MEIE).* It provides information on
     the acquisition, management, and  use  of microcomputers
     as well as security, federal publications and user groups
     relating to microcomputers. "Electronic Bulletin Boards",
     a publication available from NBS provides guidelines for
     developing an electronic bulletin board. Although written
     in 1986, much of the content is still viable.

     The Federal Job Information  Center BBS ,  (313} 226-4423;
     and FEDLINK ALIX Federal Libraries,  (202)  287-9656 are
     two additional federal bulletin boards  which may be of
     value to EPA.

3.3  Bulletin Boards in EPA

     In addition to the receipt and sending of messages,  most
     EPA bulletin Boards  have a special purpose which relates
     to   either   the  assimilation   or  dissemination   of
     environmental  data  and  procedures  through regulatory
     program offices  and laboratories.  This administration
     and management of scientific data through the electronic
     media of Bulletin  Boards  evolved as an  economical  and
     timely necessity for Federal State and special  interest
     groups focusing on the same environmental issue.

     A questionnaire on each PC and VAX based bulletin board
     is  found  in  Appendix B.  It  includes  name,  owner,
     location,  phone numbers and information  topics as  well
     as the hardware and software configuration.

     EPA  is  using electronic bulletin boards to distribute
     environmental  information  to  customers thus  managing
     communication  within   the  program.   They  are  used  to
     organize  national   conferences,  distribute  analytical
     software to  private laboratories,  distribute  computer
     software to  internal  groups,  automate the  ordering  of
     EPA  documents, and provide  a publication media  (an
     electronic newspaper).  There is some  overlap of function,
     but in general most EPA BBS represents  a unique aspect
     of the  environment. Only one  tenth of the BBS's  were

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found to have computer information as a primary focus.

One of EPA's larger and  frequently  used BBS is the ORD
BBS located in Cincinnati, Ohio (developed and previously
located  in Silver  Springs,  Maryland).  The Office of
Research and  Developed has  designated the  Center for
Environmental Research Information  (CERI)  as keeper of
the  BBS.  It  receives  3000  calls  per  month  and has
registered  1126  clients.  Its purpose is  to  foster
communication and technology transfer among EPA staff,
government  officials,  researchers,  and  the  private
sector. Special topics include:

     The ORD Bibliographic online catalogue containing
     15,000 publications dating back to 1976.

     Chemical  analysis methods  and  quality assurance
     techniques information exchange.

     Approved new chemical analysis methods for use in
     regulatory monitoring of water and wastes.

     Federal Register  announcement  summaries regarding
     environmental monitoring.

     Expert Systems within ORD.

     Water research activities and regulatory agenda.

EPA's most state of the art electronic bulletin board is
the Local  Area  Network Bulletin Board System (LANBBS).
With 180 registered users and  eight lines for multiple
access,  it uses Galacticomm  BBS  Software  to provide a
user  friendly  client  interface  similar  to  telephone
company  BBS. It is  this  easy-to-use menu access to the
LANBBS which sets it aside from other agency BBS's.  The
LANBBS is  used to distribute  and administer technical
information regarding  the personal  computer local area
networking within the agency.

Many EPA bulletin boards contain the hobbyist front-end
which intimidates the  average person.  They  have friendly
and legible menus   but they  are buried several screens
deep.

When accessing bulletin boards through Crosstalk, these
Crosstalk  commands  proved useful  when connections were
busy or  resulted in failure.  It  was also  necessary to
insert a K after the 8 or 9 for an outside line.

     R - retry
     D - dial a new number
     ? - menu help key
      - disconnect

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4.0  Methodology of Collecting Information

     Research  for  this  review  can   be  separated  into  four
     categories:  (1)   Interviews,   (2)  surveys,  (3)  literature
     searches and (4)  on-line testing.  Since this review required
     starting from ground zero, the initial contacts included the
     WIC BBS,  the ORO BBS,  and   the EPA "Information Resources
     Directory".

     4.1  Interviews

          For all PC  based BBS,  the System Operator (SYSOP)  was
          interviewed to collect information for the questionnaire.
          The SYSOP interaction was essential for system software
          identification and hardware  configuration information.
          Additional brochures  and/or documents were  solicited from
          the Sysops when available.

          Referrals from Sysops became the best source of tracking
          and locating BBS. BBS's are not a well known facet within
          EPA. In researching  this  report, most  BBS were located
          by communicating directly with  known Sysops. Referrals
          sometimes turned out  to be non-EPA BBS, a clearing house,
          an information center, a mainframe database, or a defunct
          BBS. However, SYSOPS were the best  and  almost  the only
          source of tracking the PC based BBS within EPA. The WIC
          and Region  III  Information Centers were   also  able to
          provide leads.

          Examples of this maze included:

               TTSBBS is defunct.
               TBBS was formerly SCRAM.
               AMRB was formerly UNIMAP.
               PIES was formerly EIES and originally in OSWER.
               FEMA belongs to another Agency.
               ATTIC is an Information Center.
               TIX is a clearing House.
               RODS is a searchable database on the  IBM 3090.
               HMIX is not EPA.

          Of the nineteen  BBS listed in  the "Information Resources
          Directory",  only three were EPA - CEAM,  PIES, and PMI.

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     4.2  Surveys
          A questionnaire  was developed and  distributed through
          EMail to  all  Information Center managers  and staff as
          found in the  EMail  box 1C.ALL.  Responses were received
          from five IC's of which three contained BBS Information.
          The  questionnaire was  then used  as the  base  of all
          interviews with Sysops.
                  BULLETIN BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE
                                        Date:
BBS Name:,

Owner:
BBS Address:
BBS phone no.;
SYS OP 2	  Phone:

Communication Parameters:	

Bulletin Board Topics:   	
#Users:	  # Lines/Ports:.
Hardware:	   Memory:	  HD:.

BBS Software:	

Other: 	

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4.3  Literature Research

     Literature searches were completed  using the keywords:
     electronic, bulletin board, and  BBS.  The searches were
     done on
          (1)  The CD-ROM Computer Library
               containing micro-computer magazines of the past
               12 months.
          (2)  SilverPlatter
          (3)  Dialog Information Services
          (4)  EPA Resource
               (A CD-ROM containing information on EPA)

     The Computer Library,  Silverplatter,  and Dialog proved
     to be valuable sources of articles on electronic bulletin
     boards. These  articles were  essential  for  background
     information on EBBS in general and  how they were being
     used by the world at large  as a backdrop  for the EPA BBS
     scenario.  Most referenced  review sources were obtained
     from these literature searches.
4.4  On-line Testing

     Many bulletin boards were accessed during this review in
     order to get a flavor for bulletin boards in both the EPA
     and non EPA environments. The accesses were required to
     confirm the existence, check out features, explore topics
     and also offered an opportunity to compare- features among
     the various boards. All  BBS's  were  not checked - only
     those  for  which  there  was a special interest  or  a
     suspicious doubt.

     EPA Bulletin Boards accessed were:

          TBBS (at RTF, formerly SCRAM)
          USEPA  (at Washington Info. Cntr.)
          LANBBS (at RTF on VAX Cluster)
          ORDBBS (Cincinnati,  formerly at Silver Springs)
          Email POST (primarily Sysops and social)
          Email PRPOST (little activity - almost defunct)
          Email GISNET
          Email EMAILNEWS
          Email EPACBD
          Email OCMTEL
          Email OAR
          Email SDC
          Email TITLE3
          Email RCRIS
          Email EPA-BRS
          Email CHEM
          Email IRIS
          Email ECATS

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Non EPA Bulletin Boards accessed were:

     TriState Online (Bell Telephone in Cinci.)
     CIMEISE (Mechanical Eng. Soc.)
     GTSI (Govt. Tech. Services)
     PRODIGY (commercial for subscribed users)

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5.0  Findings

     5.1  Numerical Summaries

          Of the thirty bulletin boards  located within EPA, they
          are categorized to show:


                    Type of service

               3    Computer Support
               21   Environment Support
               6    Other
                    Hardware Base

               15   Prime (email)
               14   Personal Computer
               1    VAX
                    PC Software

               5    PC-Board
               2    RBBS (shareware)
               2    PC Anywhere
               1    Galacticomm's Major BBS
               1    eSoft's TBBS
               1    Mustang's Wildcat
               1    Revelation's ASCOM4
               1    Microsoft's REMOTE

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5.2  Bulletin Board Operating Software/Hardware Configuration

     Bulletin Boards come in two versions: single-line systems
     and multiple-line systems. A single-line system links a
     single phone line to the BBS allowing access to only one
     user at a time.  The multiple-line  system links several
     phone lines to the BBs and allows  several  users to log
     on simultaneously by calling the same telephone number.
     The multiple-line system  has  multiple  modems available
     directly on internal boards or as external modems linked
     to internal  boards through serial ports. Arrangements are
     made with the phone company to  split  incoming calls to
     that number into multiple lines. Each line can have its
     own number  and  be chained/linked together with a call
     forwarding technique.

     The most  common bulletin board software  is  the RBBS
     package available as shareware from many bulletin boards.
     It can be used for either single  or multiple line access.
     FidoNet and  Colossus are also non-commercial software for
     bulletin boards.

     Galacticom's The Major BBS  is  a  multiline  commercial
     bulletin-board   system   (BBS)    that   is   unusually
     well-structured  and  functional. It offers all  of the
     standard features of a multiuser BBS,  including private
     electronic   mail,    file    upload   and    download,
     teleconferencing, special-interest group databases, and
     classified-ad searches.   The system had  some problems
     with what appeared to be line noise at baud rates other
     that  2400bps  which can  be easily modified  using the
     toolkit.    The  Major  BBS is recommended for persons
     considering moving into BBS support or with  a need for
     up to  64 channels of  simultaneous  serial communication
     in a PC environment.  This system is currently being used
     by the LANBBS.

     There are a  variety of commercial BBS packages available.
     These include:

          Chairman
          DMA
          Huntington, N.Y.

          ASCOM4
          Revelation

          Remote
          Microsoft
          PC Anywhere
          Derby Dynamic Microprocessor Assoc.

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EKO Computer Corp.
770 Middle Country Rd.
P.O. Box Y
Selden, N.Y. 11784
The Bread Board System (TBBS)
eSoft, Inc.
15200 E. Girard Ave., Suite 2550
Aurora, Co. 80014
(303)699-6565
One user: $299.95; 16 user: $895; 32 user: $1495.

The Major BBS
Galacticomm, Inc.
4101 SW 47th Ave., Suite 101
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. 33314
(305) 583-5990
2-user: $59.; 4-user: $359.; 8-user: $659.;
16-user: $959.; 32-user: $1259.; 64-user: $1559.

Tpost
Coker Electronics
1430 Lexington Ave.
San Mateo, Ca. 94402
(415) 573-5515
single-user: $229.; 2-user: $595.; 4-user: $895.

Wildcat
Mustang Software
PO BOX 2264
Bakersfield, CA 93303
(805) 395-0223
One user: $129.; 10-user: $249.; 250-user: $499.

BBS-PC
Micro Systems Software

IDEA-TREE
ProtoSoft Co.

FoRem PC
Commnet Systems

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6.0  Conclusion

     The Agency bulletin board systems are supporting an essential
     need of communicating internally and with clients to keep them
     updated on  strategic information. At  this date, there  are
     approximately 30 active bulletin boards on PC/VAX/Prime. They
     primarily support unique  environmental related projects. They
     are independently controlled representing Sysop expertise in
     a variety of software and hardware configuration. Assuming EPA
     follows the same pattern as the world,  EBBS's  will  continue
     to grow in usage and number.

7.0  Recommendations

     It is  recommended  that  an EPA Agency Standard be developed
     for  EPA Electronic  Bulletin  Boards.  This standard  should
     include  guidelines for  hardware,  software,  configuration,
     professional  menu  interfaces  as  well   as  operational  and
     security standards. Responsibility for enforcing this standard
     should be assigned.  The  support  group should  also  have  the
     responsibility   of  approving  new   bulletin  boards   and
     maintaining directory records  on  all  existing EPA BBS.  An
     Email  box  for all EPA BBS  Sysops would be one  recommended
     avenue for communicating.

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                 References and Related Readings

1.   BYTE, "State of the  BBS  Nation",  Wood,  Lamong; Blankenhorn,
     Dana, Jan. 1990.


2.   Computing Canada,  "Bulletin  Boards Opening Communications",
     Gutteridge, Adam, Sept. 28, 1989


3.   Government Computer  News,  "GSA Fires Up  New Bulletin Board
     Without CP-M", Richard A. Danca, June 24, 1988.

4.   Brock  N.  Meeks,  "Government  Operated  Bulletin  Boards",
     Profiles, 1987.


5.   Steve Gibson,  "Galacticomm Produces  a Multiline BBS Product
     of Pure Gold", InfeWorld. July 31, 1989, P.27

6.   Personal Computing, "The Corporate BBS", Russ LocJcwood, March
     20, 1990.

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                       Appendix A
           Distribution List For This Report

William Henderson, OARM, Cincinnati
Robert R. Caster, OARM/IRMD, Cincinnati
Jonda Byrd, EPA Library, Cincinnati
Shannon McFarland, OARM/IRMD, Cincinnati
Willis Greenstreet, RTF, NC.
Don Fulford, RTF, NC.
George LaForest, MD 34, RTF, NC., 27711
Brigid Rapp, Washington, DC.
Debbie Ross, Public Access Program Mgr., Washington, DC.
Ed Kress, LANBBS Sysop, MD 90, RTF, NC.,27711
Jose Perez, ORDBBS Sysop, Cincinnati
Dennis Lussier, ORDBBS Proj. Off., Cincinnati
Barry Price, TTSBBS Sysop, Cincinnati
John Nelson, VAXTM1 Sysop, RTF
Bruce Almich, VAXTM1 Proj. Off., RTF
Richard Pomata, USEPA Sysop, Washington, DC.
Hersch Rorex, TBBS Sysop, MD 14, RTF
Bill Peterson, AMRB Sysop, MD 80, RTF
Dennis Grumpier, NSRBBS Sysop, MD 15, RTF
Jan Waters, OSWER Sysop, 1010 Wayne Ave, Ste 200,
     Silver Spring, Md., 20910
Jim Clark/John Sykes, SFBB Sysop, Reg. Ill,
     841 Chestnut Bldg, Phila., PA., 19107
Myles E. Morse, ATTIC Director, Washington, DC.
Chris Messner, PIES Sysop, Washington, DC.

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Barry Howard/Jerry Stoberfield, AQMD BBS Sysop, RTF, NC.
R.B.Ambrose, Jr./Shawn Turk, CEAM Sysop, USEPA,
     College Station Rd., Athens, Ga.,30613-7799
Facita Tabay, COLIS  Sysop,  USEPA-RREL,  2890 Woodbridge Ave,
Edison, N.J., 08837
Bob Cibulskis, DATAPORT Sysop, Edison, N.J.
Sarah-Carney, SWICH Sysop, Washington, D.C.
Leslie Davis-Hillard, PIN Sysop, Washington, DC.
Charles Webb, WIC, Washington, D.C.
Denny Daniel, WIC, Washington, D.C.
(for distribution to all Information Centers)
Sam Conger, RTF, NC.
Paul Baker, RTF, NC.

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                           Appendix B
                  Bulletin Board Questionnaires
                  BULLETIN BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE
                                        Date: August 14. 1990


BBS Name; LANBB8

Owner: LAN8Y8. NCC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT

BBS Address: MD 90. RTP. M.C.

BBS phone no.: f12001 fTS 629-4642? (2400) FTS 629-0700

SYSOP; ED KRESS	  Phone; FTS 629-0700

Communication Parameters: BA=B. PA=NO. ST=I. 1200.2400.9600

Bulletin Board Topics:   TAM ^"inistrator Technical information
                    Posting of Problems
                    LAN Operating System Upgrades
                    Installation Procedures
#Users: 18o (35 active)       #Lines/Ports:_8_
Hardware; IBM AT       Memory; 640K       HP;   80MEG

BBS Software; GALACTICOMM	

Other:  LAN ADMINISTRATOR course includes using the LAN BBS

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                  BULLETIN BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE
                                             Date : August 8. 1990

BBS Name; ORDBB8
Ownen Office of Research ^*^ flavelopinent» CERI
BBS Address; 26 W. ML King Dr.. Cincinnati* Ohio. 45268
BBS phone no.! FT8 684-7610 or (513) 569-7610
SYSOP: Jose Perez/Dennis Lusaier (PO)  Phone :FTS 584-7272/7354
Communication Parameters : DA 8. ST 1. PA NO
Bulletin Board Topics:   oyp publication Citation
                    water
                    Regional Operations
                    Expert Systems
                    Biotechnology
                    OA/OC
ausers:  1126       f Lines/ Ports :_& _
Hardware: AT Compatible*   Memory:  1 Mb       HP:  150 Mb
BBS Software: PC Board V.14.1/E9
Other:  Slave Card ADC PC/I with software NTNX for 6 ports.
       DOS 3.1
       The 80286  is networked to  another 80286  for  backup. The
first 80286 has a C drive of 10 Mb  and  a Micropolis D drive of 132
Mb. It has a built in backup tape drive.

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                  BULLETIN BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE
                                        Date; August 21. 1990


BBS Name; VAXTMlt;BULLETIN

Owner; DEC System Support Group

BBS Address; RTP. N.C.

BBS phone no.; N/A

SYSOP: John Nelson	  Phone:  FT8 629-4255

Communication Parameters: DECnet	
Bulletin Board Topics;Cluster News. Committee—Minutes. GI8. ORDi
                    PCSA. Mae. VMS. Tape Mat.. Std Operation
                    Procedures. DBCOS tapes.
#Users!   N/A       fLines/Ports;  N/A
Hardware;   VAX	   Memory; 64MB     HP; Gigabytes

BBS Software;  VMS & DECU8 BULLETIN

Other:

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                  BULLETIN BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE
                                        Date:  August 8. 1990

BBS Name; U8EPA
Owner: Washington Information Center (WlCi
BBS Address; Washington. D.C.
BBS phone no.! PT8 484-7215; (202)382-7215
SYSOP; Richard Pomata	  Phone: FTS 484-7276
Communication Parameters;  SP 1200. DA 8. ST 1. PA NO. DU FULL
Bulletin Board Topics:    General Utilities - PC Related
                     Distribution base for PC contracts
                     Toxic Waste	
                     Printer Drivers
tfUsers: loo         #Lines/Ports:	1_
Hardware; IBM AT      Memory:  512K      HP; 130MB
BBS Software; RBBS
Other:Gave references to ORDBBS. OSWER BBS. CEAM. and FEMA HMIX

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                  BULLETIN BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE


                                        Date:     August 31, 1990

BBS Name: Solid Waste Information Clearing House (SWICH)	
Owner:    EPA Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response	
BBS Address:   P.O. 7219. Silver Springs. MD	
BBS phone no.: 1-800-67S-WICH	
SYSOP: Sarah Carney. Lori Swain    Phone: 8-382-7932,301-585-2898
Communication Parameters: SP 2400. ST 1. PA NO. DA 8	
Bulletin Board Topics:   Recycling	
                         Waste Energy	
                         Land Fillina
                         Legislation
                         Education
                         Planniner
#Users: _                             # Lines/ Ports: 8_
Hardware: &T romp.       Memory: _ wn;      _
BBS Software: p
Other:    Set u  same as PTES

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                  BULLETIN BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE




                                        Date:     August 21, 1990


BBS Name: Applied Modeling Research Branch (AMRB1	

Owner!    Atmospheric Research and Assessment Lab. (AREAL)

BBS Address:   M.D. 80	Research Triangle Park. N.C.

BBS phone no.t (9191 541-1325

SYSOP: Bill Peterson	    Phone: FTS 629-1376
Communication Parameters: SP 1200. 2400. 8.PA=N. ST=1	

Bulletin Board Topics:   Models of Non Regulatory Nature	
                         Collection of air models used in support
                         of regulation.
#Users: snn-finn                              #Lines/Ports: 1.

Hardware: VP riaee	  Memory: 640	  HD: 20

BBS Software: BBBS	

Other:    Formerl  UNTMAP operated by Bruce Turner.	
                     IQPfi	

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                  BULLETIN BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE




                                        Date:     August  21,  1990


BBS Name: New Source Review  (NSRBBS)	

Owner:    Air Quality Management: Division. OAOPS

BBS Address:   HP 15	

BBS phone no.; 541-0866  FTS 629-0866

SYSOP: Dennis Grumpier             Phone: 541-0871
Communication Parameters: BA-8. ST=1. 2400. PA=N	

Bulletin Board Topics:   New  Source  Review  Construction  Permit
                         Program	
                         Policy and Guidance  Documents-permits
                         General Features - Msa. unload/download.
#Users: ^nn                                 #Lines/Ports:

Hardware: w ?«g Ttpann   Memory: 64Q	  HD:  40

BBS Software: Pf? Anywh«»T-t»

Other:    Status:  under development

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                  BULLETIN BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE




                                        Date:      August 30.  1990


BBS Name: DATAPORT Solid and Hazardous Waste Technology Transfer

Owner:    Office of Solid Waste and Emergency  Response fOSWERi

BBS Address:   USEPA/ERT. Wood Bridge Ave.	
               Edison, New JeTseyf 0883*7
BBS phone no.: FTS 340-6968	

SYSOP: Bob Cibulskis	    Phone: FTS  340-6746,  6740

Communication Parameters: 2400. 9600. BA 8. ST 1.  PA N	

Bulletin Board Topics:   Superfund Clean up
                         Removal Program  for OCSCS
                         Solid Waste Regulation
                         Main  topic  is Removal  Cost  Management
                         System  (RCMS)
                         f201t 906-6968.	
#Users: 25Q -                              #Lines/Ports:  i (2)*

Hardware: ?Rfi AT -  Memory: i m*»g _  HD:  120 MB

BBS Software: pr
Other:    Oct.  1st there will be  two ports  handling up to  9600
                OT-irHnai-prt Ctrrt-nhor- 1QRH                       _

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                   BULLETIN BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE




                                         Date:     August 23,  1990


BBS Name: CPUS  (Computerized On-Line Information System)	

Owners    RREL Risk Reduction Engineering Research Library

BBS Address:   2890 Woodbridcre Ave Edison. N.J. 08837	

BBS phone no.;  (201)  548-4636

SYSOP: Pacita  Tabav	    Phone:  8-340-6871? (202)906-6871

Communication  Parameters:  1200/2400. DA=8. ST=1. PA=N	

Bulletin Board Topics:    Computerized On-Line Information System.
                          Case history file.	
                          Library Search System.
                          Site Application Analysis Support.
                              i Treatabilitv Database.	
#Users: appr.  1000                            #Lines/Ports: 2.
Hardware: JHM  AT	  Memory:  fi*n K	  HD: 25 MEG	

BBS Software:  Pomrt-t-o lw Mifrrrtgi-ii-F

Other:    CPUS will be upgraded Oct.  1st  to a Xenix System with
          fl  n«so-rsf  1 2O  Via TTDj  B MP.C  P&M; wii-hi  Ytaniv r>p«a-rat--inrr
          system software.

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                   BULLETIN BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE


                                         Date:      August 23, 1990

BBS Name: Pollution Prevention Information Exchange System  (PIES)
Owner;    U.S.  EPA OEETD. PPO. and OPMT. PPIC  Clearing House
BBS Address:    Mvles E. Morse. Director. RD 681.   Washington. D.C.
BBS phone no.:  (703) 506-1025  800# for state and Local Government
SYSOP: Chris Messner 821-4808      Phone: 8-475-7161; (202)475-7161
Communication Parameters: BA=8. ST=1. PA=N	
Bulletin Board  Topics:    No  Access restrictions.  Serves  States,
                          Academia;	
                          Calendar of Events? Source Reduction and
                          Recycling:	•	
                                         Tradcing— full    texts
                          abstracts .
                          BP& Cyairhg on Pal lii'tH on
                          All wag-he evchanges  in  TTSA ft Canada.
                          Porrinnal anH T.nr!a1 qnvt^.  miTti e*Yr*hstn
                          Tnrtiie^ry pnl 1 iit"i nn pyovont1 :•{ e\n .
#Users: >innn -                              #Lines/Ports: Ifi
Hardware: Mirji-n/aiiny    Memory: _  HD:
BBS Software:  P
Other :    Iiisted in  "EPA Information Resources Director" as ETES
          My 1 g»g  Viag Irr'rirjViiiT'pg anH  virStan t*apg nf PPTP.  Qyigfinal 1y
          on OSWER; originated mid-April,  1990; BBS  was repeated
          in Paris, France.

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                  BULLETIN BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE




                                         Date:      August 23, 1990


BBS Name: Air Quality Management Division (AQMD)	

Owner:    AQMD	

BBS Address:   Research Triangle Park.  N.C.	

BBS phone no.; 541-0809.  fcurrent #541-08721

SYSOP: Barry Howard/J. Stoberfield Phone:  541-5208/FTS 629-0876

Communication Parameters:  BA-8.  ST-1.  2400.  PA-N	

Bulletin Board Topics:    Special Topics;  Messages, file transfer,
                          RPTS  Post 87  SIP  (State  Implementation
                          Plani  Development;  Ozone  oversight;  SIP
                       ^Jlraclcs.  PNIO  Drocrram; SO2 Procnram.
#Users: 26	                              #Lines/Ports:  1_
Hardware: A pgryin	  Memory:  i meg	  HD:  70 meg	

BBS Software: Pf? Anywh^Tta wlt-h BKn Sftft-wai***	


Other:    Contractor is Pacific Env.  Services. The four ps2/30 are
       	on a Movc» 11 n*

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                  BULLETIN BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE




                                        Date:     August 23,  1990


BBS Name: Center for Exposure Assessment Modeling (CEAM)	

Owners    U.S. EPA Env. Research Laboratory

BBS Address:   College Station Rd.  Athens. Georgia  30613-7799

BBS phone no.: FTS 250-3402	

SYSOP: P.*. Ambrose. Jr.	    Phone: FTS 250-3130
Communication Parameters: BA=8. N. 1. 1200-9600	

Bulletin Board Topics:   Distributing Models  (Water  Quality and
                         Hvdroloqical) from the center.	
                       ___FortranJPCSoJCtware.	
                         Communications  with  users  of  models.
                         Users   are*     Regions r   Corporation,.
                         Consultants.	
#Users: 2245	                             #Lines/Ports: 1.
Hardware: TRM AT -  Memory: ŁAfl _  HD: 40 MEG

BBS Software:
Other :    I«isted In EPA Information Resources Directory

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                  BULLETIN BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE
                                         Date:      August 7, 1990


BBS Name: TBBS   (Technical  Bulletin   Board  System)   (formerly
          SCRAMBBSl	
Owner:    EPA-OAOPS-TSD	

BBS Address:   MD-14  Research Triangle Park.  NC  27711	

BBS phone no.; FTS 869-5742

SYSOP: Hersch Rorex	    Phone:  8-629-5637;919-541-5637

Communication Parameters:  ST 1.  PA NO.  DA  8	

Bulletin Board Topics:   Regulatory Models; SCRAM (Support Center
                         for Regulator  Air Quality Models).	
                         Emission  Measurement.	
                         Technical  Information Center. EMTIC.
#Users: 1HQO -                              # Lines/Ports :  Ifi _

Hardware: **»* prytagj    Memory:  4 MEG _  HD:  60. _

BBS Software : Tha TVrtaaH Pna-rH gygf-mn  (TBBg)

Other:    "Dfgi Boards" -for multiple  ports  access are S625  each 8
                           iag a &  oT*t* hoayrf  an R  r>T^* hnaT*<^ anri
          plan another 8 port board.

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                  BULLETIN BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE




                                        Date:     August 28, 1990


BBS Name: PIN (Pesticide Information Network)	

Owner:    EPA Office of Pesticides Programs

BBS Address:   Crystal Citv. VA	

BBS phone no.; FTS 557-1919; f703) 557-1919

SYSOP: Leslie Davis-Hillard        Phone: 557-7499
Communication Parameters: 2400 Baud. ST 1. DA 7. PA E. DU F	

Bulletin Board Topics:   Pesticide Monitoring Inventory includes;
                         data on proiects. substrates, chemicals.
                         and location.
                         Restricted use oroducts/chemicals file.
#Users: ADD	                             #Lines/Ports: JL

Hardware: *P TTT	  Memory: 64QK	  HD: 	

BBS Software: ASPOM A hy Pg

Other:	

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                  BULLETIN BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE





                                         Date:      August 15, 1990


BBS Name: SFBB  (Super Fund Bulletin  Board)	

Owner*    procurement and Contracts  Management Division

BBS Address:   Washington. D.C.

BBS phone no.: Email	

SYSOP: Jim Clark/John Svkes        Phone: 597-9921/475-8644	

Communication Parameters: 	
Bulletin Board Topics:   Conflict of  Interest.
                         Freedom of Information.
                         Construction Subcontracts.
                         Sucerfund ProDertvIssues.
                         General.
#Users: "M"                                   #Lines/Ports:

Hardware: 	  Memory: 	wn*       	

BBS Software: 	

Other:    SFBB Is a Trade Post Bulletin Board and operates similar
          •tri  Bmail.    HTATfOM  i a  ypgpr>ngi hi «a  •for* t*.ti«»  T^ohni r»a1
          operations.

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                  BULLETIN BOARD QUESTIONNAIRE
                                         Date:
                                                   August 21, 1990
BBS Name: OSWER BBS (Solid and Hazardous Waste Technology Transfer)

Owner:    Office of Solid  Waste and Emergency Response _

BBS Address:   EPA. 401 M St. . SW. OS-110. Washington. D.C. . 20460

BBS phone no.: (202) 589-8366 _
SYSOP: Jim Walters
                                   Phone:  (301)  589-8368
Communication Parameters: DA 8. ST  1.  PA N
Bulletin Board Topics:   Exchanges data  and policies on hazardous
                         waste.	
                         Offers  Risk management Conference which
                         keeps specialist  in touch with hazardous
                         waste.	
                         Pollution Prevention contains literature
                                  database   and  eorrfcaerhs .
                         Contains
                                           info'rma'h'irm for  PPM*s
                         Qf?f>/g anrf PPCTT rmal ATT* Divi sinn
                         fit-aff.
#Users: 15flfl
                                              # Lines/ Ports:  &_
Hardware: TRM &T m-mre   Memory:  SAOK

BBS Software: pr

Other: __
                                                   HD:  150 MB

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                   Appendix C
Selected BBS Logon Sessions and other Work Papers
             Available upon request.

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EPA Bulletin  Boards available  through the Prime  computer using
Dialcom Tradepost:
Bulletin Board Nama           Date of initiation
Type of bulletin board
               Contact Person           Email Account
DLC-GISNET                   12/03/87
Welcome to the GISNET Bulletin Board
              Contact: Ed Partington
EPA3769
DLC-EMAILNEWS                03/27/89
EPA EMAILNEWS BULLETIN BOARD
              Contact: BARBRA TERRY
EPA3572
EPA-SFBB                     03/27/89
Superfund Bulletin Board
              Contact: John Sykes
EPA3034
DLC-OCMTEL                   03/30/89
OCM TELEPHONE DIRECTORY
              Contact: ROCCO ORTIZ
EPA0004
DLC-OAR                      07/07/89
Office of Air and Radiation Telecommunications System
              Contact: Pete Cosier         EPA6142
DLC-SDC                      07/07/89
Systems Development Center Bulletin Board
              Contact: Ed Biernacki
EPA3753
DLC-TITLE3                   07/25/89
EMERGENCY PLANNING & COMMUNITY RIGHT TO KNOW
              Contact: EILLEN GIBSON       EPA7378
DLC-RCRIS                    09/12/89
RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY INFORMATION SYSTEM
              Contact: DONNA INMAN         EPA5389

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EPA-EQUIPMEHT                11/21/89
ORD EQUIPMENT EXCHANGE BULLETIN BOARD
              Contact: FANNIE THOMPSON     EPA8136
DLC-EPA-BRS                  08/10/90
BIENNIAL REPORTING SYSTEM
              Contact: TOM MILKE           EPA5521
DLC-CHEM
EPA's Pilot Right-to-know Chemical Database
          Contact: STEVE YOUNG/EPA/OTS (202)382-3797
DLC-IRIS
INTEGRATED RISK INFORMATION SYSTEM
          Contact: Karen Grisson/FTS-684-7254
DLC-ECATS

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PR-POST CATEGORIES
ADCR
AIR-COMPLIANCE
CBD
DATACOMM
DEC
E-MAIL
ES
FED.REG
FMFIA
GAD
GENERAL
IBM/PC
JOBS
LEXITRON
LIBRARY
MAINFRAME
ORD.QAO
ORD.REG
OSWER-UAC
PC-LAN
PRIME
RADIATION
RISK
SITESPECIFIC
TITLES
TRAINING
USER-GROUPS

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POST CATEGORIES
ACTIVITIES
ANIMALS-PETS
ANTIQUES
APARTMENTS
ARTS&CRAFTS
AUTOS
BOATS
BULLETIN-BOARD
CAR-POOLS
COMPUTERS-MICRO
FURNITURE
HOUSES
MISC
NOTICES
PETROLEUM-INFO
SERVICES
TESTING

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The  following  list  of  BBSs  is  copied with  permission   from
Boardwatch Magazine,  a  monthly newsletter for the electronic BBS
and online  information  service industry.   For more information,
contact  Boardwatch  Magazine,  5970  S.  Vivian  St.,  Littleton, CO
80127, (303) 973-6038.

ADA Information Clearinghouse          (202)694-0215
ANARC (World Radio/TV Handbook)        (913)345-1978
Applied Modeling Research (EPA Models)(919)541-1325
Ashton-Tate Technical Support          (213)538-6196
AST Technical Services  (Support)       (714)852-1872
AT&T Support (PC 6300, AT&T PC's)      (201)769-6397
Audiophile Network  (High-end Audio)    (818)988-0452
Baud Town (Social BBS)                 (818)893-0340
BBS Press Service (INFOMAT)            (913)478-9239
BellSouth's TUB Gateway                (404)594-3964
Best Friends (Multiline Social)        (714)832-5902
Big Peach (Automenu,Treeview Software)(404)446-6650
Big Sky Telegraph (Rural MT Schools)   (406)683-7680
BOOK (Info 2000 Computer Books)        (215)657-6130
Boston Citinet (Boston Info)           (617)439-5699
Brown Bag Software  (Support)           (408)371-7654
Buttonware  (PC Software Support)       (206)454-2629
C.A.R.L. Library Service (Colorado)    (303)830-1165
Canada Remote Systems .(Largest BBS)    (416)232-0442
CatHouse 206/2901 (Wildcat Software)   (805)395-0650
Cathouse II SuperSystem (TV Satellite)(513)528-0505
Census Bureau Office Automation        (301)763-4576
Census Bureau Personnel Division       (301)763-4574
Channel 1 (New England PC Board Sys)   (617)354-5776
Chicago SysLink (TRS 80 Support)       (312)622-4442
Classi Computer Fieds (Classified Ads)(317)359-5199
Clean Air (Health, Smoking Topics)     (408)298-4277
Cleveland Freenet (City Info)          (216)368-3888
COCONET  (San Diego Entertainment)      (619)456-0815
Computer Business Services  (Columnist)(714)396-0014
Computing Canada Online (PC Newspaper)(416)497-5263
Crosstalk Communications (MK4/XVI)     (404)641-1803
CTC IEEE Employment Database  (Resumes)(508)263-3857
Dante Project (Divinia Comedia)        (603)643-6310
DataLink RBBS System  (NOAA Satellite)  (214)394-7438
Dr. Dobbs Listing Service              (603)882-1599
Economic Bulletin Board (Statistics)   (202)377-0433
Eesti BBS #1 (First BBS in USSR)       7 0142 422583
ELISA II (Export License Advise)       (202)697-3632
Employ-Net  (Help Wanted Ads)           (303)871-9504
Energy Info Admin E-Publications       (202)586-8658
Event Horizons (Graphics Image Lib)    (503)777-1578
EXEC-PC  (Largest BBS in US, 100 lines)(414)789-4210
Far West (Western Canada Galacticomm)  (604)381-4430
FCC Public Access Link                 (301)725-1072
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation  (202)737-7264
Federal Job Information Center         (313)226-4423

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FEDLINK ALIX (Federal Libraries)       (202)287-9656
File Cabinet (10-line PC Board Sys)    (215)678-9854
Fishing Link (River/Lake Charts)       (608)526-9292
Fly-Fisher's Forum                     (416)463-9090
FOG City 125/10 (Gay Community)        (415)863-9697
Forbin Project, The (QModem SST Comm.)(319)233-6157
GAO Bulletin Board (Lotus, WP, dBASE)  (202)275-1050
GLIB (Gay and Lesbian Information)     (703)578-4542
Greenpeace Environet (Ecological)      (415)861-6503
GT PowerComm (Software)                (713)772-2090
Hay Locator (Database Supplier/Buyer)  (317)494-6643
Hayes Advanced Systems Support  (Modem)(800JUS-HAYES
Herpnet/Satronics (Reptile, Amphibian)(215)698-1905
IBM Users Group Support (Newsletter)   (404)988-2790
Inbound/Outbound (Telephone Sales Pub)(212)989-4675
Info-Source Canada (Online Pub)        (416)574-1313
Information Resources Services         (202)535-7661
Intel Support (Intel PC Products)      (503)645-6275
Investor's Online Data (Market Info)   (206)285-5359
JAG-NET (Navy Judge Advocate General)  (202)325-0748
JDR Microdevices (Hardware Catalog)    (408)559-0253
JOBBS (Job Listings Technical)         (404)992-8937
Lasergems Computer Hotline             (602)867-7258
LUMINA (Lib. Univ. of Minnesota)       (612)626-2206
Maxi-Micro Ticker Screen (Stocks)      (212)809-1160
MCI ONE Consultant Support (ANI Dev)   (800-873-5548
MEDCOM BBS CLUB (Games, Chat, News)    (800)445-4227
Micro Foundry, The (Software Support)  (415)598-0498
Micro Message Service (News Magazines)(919)779-6674
Microlink B (USA Today News)           (303)972-9600
Microrim Technical Support (R:Base)    (206)881-8119
Monu-CAD (Designs for Tombstones)      (607)264-3307
NANci (Naval Aviation News Magazine)   (202)475-1973
NARDAC (Zenith Support, Federal Users)(804)445-1627
NASA Spacelink (Flight/Space History)  (205)895-0028
National Agricultural Library          (301)344-8510
National Genealogical (Family History)(703)528-2612
National Inst. Science Technology      (301)948-5717
National Publishers Exchange           (813)989-1087
NAVWESA (Naval Weapons Engineering)    (202)433-6639
New York Macintosh Users Group         (212)932-9513
NIST ACTS (Computer Telephone Service)(303)494-4775
NOAA Information Technology Exchange   (301)770-0069
NOAA Solar (Solar Flare/Geomagnetic)   (303)497-5000
Northrop Career Access (Employment)    (213)938-5532
Numisnet (Coin Collecting)             (301)498-8205
NYCENET (NYC Education Network)        (212)769-0550
OCRWM Infolink (Radioactive Waste)     (202)586-9359
OERI (Educational Statistics, Data)    (800)222-4922
Old Colorado City Communications       (719)632-2658
Online StoreDLX (PC Hardware Catalog)  (805)656-0379
Oracle PC (South Australian TBBS)      6108 260-6222
Osprey's Nest (Birdwatching, Ecology)  (301)989-9036

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Personal Resource System (Online Pubs)(501)442-8777
Photo*Life (Nature Photography)       (301)270-2638
PHYSICS Forum (Astronomical Sciences) (413)545-1959
PKWare (PKARC and PKZIP utilities)    (414)352-7176
Popular Mechanics Online              (212)582-8369
ProComm Support                       (314)474-8477
Public Brand Software (Shareware)     (317)856-2087
Publishers Information Services       (312)342-6919
Radio Electronics (Magazine)          (516)293-2283
Random Access Information Services    (503)761-8100
RGB Computing (PC Sales Info. Serv.)  (519)824-3997
Rose Media (Canadian PC Board Sys.)   (416)733-2780
Salt Air (PCBOARD BBS Software)       (801)261-8976
Scenix Network (USA Today, Box Office)(213)372-2282
Science Resources Studies (Fed Budget)(202)634-1764
Scooters Scientific Exchange          (215)657-5586
SEAboard! (ARC, SEADOG, AXE Software) (201)473-1991
Second Ring, The (RBBS Software)      (203)268-5315
Society for Technical Comm.           (202)393-3557
Software Plus (Shareware, Downloads)  (919)577-9831
Sound Advise (20 Line PCBoard)        (816)436-4516
State and Local Emergency Management) (202)646-2887
Synergy (Turbo Basic/Turbo C/Quick C) (617)769-5468
Take 3 (Reviews of Movies/Video/Film) (602)482-1001
Talk Channel (Sexual Orientation)     (818)506-0620
TAXACOM (Botany, FLORA ONLINE News)   (716)896-7581
Taxonomic Reference File              (215)972-6759
TBBS Net 104/23 (The Bread Board Sys.)(303)699-9248
Technotronics (LAN/PC Support)        (212)924-6899
Telegodzilla (Home of ZModem)         (503)621-3746
Telix Support                         (416)439-8293
Texas State Law Library               (512)463-1371
The Business (Microsoft Windows)      (213)477-0408
The Ledge PCBoard (Textview Door)     (818)352-3620
The Livewire (Magazine Orders)        (609)235-5297
The Other Ball (Adult Chat System)    (818)358-6968
The Unique and Nifty (Graphics, etc.) (317)866-0725
The Well (Popular - Hourly charges)   (415)332-6106
Thomas Business Systems (Used PC's)   (407)395-7057
TOPS Support (TOPS LAN)               (415)769-8874
U.S. ROBOTICS - Sit UBU Sit           (708)982-5092
United Nations (UN Press Releases)    (201)795-0733
US Naval Observatory (Enter @TCO)     (202)653-1079
USA Today Distribution Service        (303)973-4222
USA/GDR Databank (Foreign News)       (202)529-0140
USGS Quick Epicenter Determination    (800)358-2663
USNO Time of Day for Clocks           (202)653-0351
UT Library Online Catalog             (512)471-9420
VA Property Listing (Foreclosures)    (602)640-2371
Vacation Florida Database (Tourism)   (407)839-0333
Vancouver ED-NET (Educational online) (604)734-3282
Ward and Randy's CBBS (oldest BBS)    (312)545-8086
WeatherBank (Forcast for Any City)    (800)827-2727
WeatherStar Pilot Briefing            (612)296-5426

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Western Digital Technical Support     (714)756-8176
XyQuest support (XyWrite Software)    (508)667-5669
Ye Olde Bailey (Legal Issues)         (713)520-1569.

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