&EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Information Resources Management (PM-211D) January 1992 Public Information Center PIC FOCUS Public Access to Environmental Information Through EPA's Public Information Center (PIC) The National Technical Information Service (NTIS) can assist you with your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Because NTIS has a statutory-based fee schedule (based on 1987 changes to FOIA and related Office of Management and Budget guidelines), it can provide your material directly to the public without your involvement. NTIS provides public access to documents and other items that might be requested under FOIA. For example, NTIS will maintain a partnership with EPA's Superfund Program. According to the Superfund Documents Coordinator, EPA's cooperation with NTIS is expected to result in a 50% reduction in printing costs, a 65% decrease in staff time required for distribution, and a user community that receives top-notch service. Current legislation provides incentives for FOIA officers to reduce administrative costs. When you enter products that are frequently requested under FOIA into the NTIS inventory, NTIS can fill orders, or even provide subscriptions for recurring publications. This frees the Agency's FOIA staff and also reduces your office's printing costs. If you think your office could take advantage of NTlS's services, please call Jeralene Green at EPA's Headquarters FOIA Office, FTS 260-4048. You may also want to call the Office of Program Management and Acquisitions at NTIS at (703)487-4634. Copies of the Handbook of NTIS Services for Federal Agencies are available by calling PIC at FTS 260-7751. EARTHQUOTE "We need knowledge to care for ourselves, every part of the Earth and the life upon it, and all of the future generations as well. " -The Dalai Lama in the Sept./Oct. EPA Journal NEW ITEMS AT PIC 1992: The Year of Clean Water (calendar), America's Clean Water Foundation and U.S. EPA. The Administrator's Awards Program: Pollution Prevention Awards. December 1991, OCEPA and Pollution Prevention Division, 22K-1001. The Next Environmental Policy: Preventing Pollution (Article by Administrator Reilly), September 1991, OCEPA, 22A-2000. For copies, please call PIC at 260-7751. INFORMATION ACCESS BRANCH FTS (202) 260-8710 Clearinghouses Databases Dockets Libraries Publications Records ^ Printed on Recycled Paper ------- PlC PLP NS RELOCATION TO NEW OFFICES Construction has begun on the new Public Information Center, making PIG a window to EPA’s goals and accomplishments. As seen in the floorplan above, the new PIG, which will be located in the former National Bank of Washington at Waterside Mall, will feature exhibits of EPA activities and programs. The public area will boast workstations giving access to environmental databases, a 35-seat theater for multimedia presentations, and increased public seating and pamphlet displays. PIG will be the primary visitors’ center at Headquarters. PlC FOCUS Page 2 The new Public Information Center is scheduled to be unveiled in Spring 1992. Further details about opening ceremonies and operations of the new PIG will appear in forthcoming issues of PlC FOCUS. If you have any questions about PIG or its services, please contact Bngid Rapp, Chief, Information Access Branch at FTS 260-8710, or Kevin Rosseel, PIG Director (Contractor) at FTS 260-2080. Public Information Center: A Window to EPA Printed on Recycled Papei ------- |