&EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA IMSD 90-01 February 1990 Administration and Resources Management |PM 2 11 A) INFOTERRA Services United Nations Environment Programme ------- INFOTERRA at the UNITED STA The United States is a founding member of the INFO TERRA neMork and has remained one of the most active partners over the past decade. It is the number one provider of information and the second largest user of INFO TERRA. The INFO TERRA office is administered by the Office of In formation Resources Management and is housed at the Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters Library. Reference and Referral --Utilize the EPA library and information services network. --Search over 500 EPA and commercial databases. --Refer clients to US experts. --Provide EPA and other government agency reports. --Distribute non-technical EPA publications --Compile custom bibliographies. International Directory of Sources --6500 sources of expertise worldwide. --Available in hardcopy, disk, or tape. --Database searches and demonstrations. --Registration and update US sources. • international Visitors --Support research activities. --Conduct tours of information facilities. --Arrange for appointments with EPA staff. ------- TES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY • Network Activities --Initiate proactive exchange programs of documents and databases. --Participate in international information conferences and sponsor international participation in the US. --Develop a pilot companion exchange program to strengthen the INFOTERRA network. Databases and Communications --E-mail connection with UNEP headquarters in Geneva and Nairobi. --Worldwide facsimile network. --Access over 500 EPA and commercial databases. --Pathfinder to international environmental databases. • EPA Staff Services --Conduct briefings on INFOTERRA. --Respond to international questions referred from staff. --Tours for international visitors. --Assist on activities related to INFOTERRA. • Contact INFOTERRA’U.S. National Focal Point U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 401 M Street, SW (PM2IIA) Washington, D.C. 20460 Phone: (202) 382-5917 FAX: (202) 382-7886 ------- INFOTERRA ^ INFOTERRA AND THE UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME When the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was created at the Stockholm Conference in 1972, its founders established INFOTERRA, the international environmental research and referral system, as the cornerstone to UNEP activities. The INFOTERRA system is comprised of * National Focal Points (NFP) -Network of 137 participating countries. -Access points where the public can seek answers to environmental questions. -Register and update sources for INFOTERRA Directory. * Regional Service Centres -Geographic regions form sub-networks. -Share common expertise. -Pool resources to efficiently respond to queries. * Special Sectoral Sources -Contract institutions recognized as world leaders in various areas of environmental expertise. -Provide custom research on issues of speciall environmental priority. • Programme Activity Centre -Located at UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya,. -Coordinate network activities. -Train NFP staff. --Publish network bulletinTaRffHMWftliHfi'al materials -Maintain database. -Organize network conferences. ------- |