National Dialogue on Access to Environmental Information
What is the National Dialogue?
   The National Dialogue on Access to Environmental  Information (www.epa.gov/nationaldialogue) is
   EPA's approach to exploring  how  we  can  better meet our customers' needs for environmental
   information.  The goal is to improve access to EPA's environmental information and to make EPA
   information more valuable and useful.

   Environmental information is a key strategic resource for accomplishing EPA's environmental mission -
   protecting human health and the environment. Easy access to high quality environmental information is
   critical for supporting sound decisions by EPA and  its many  environmental customers and partners in
   federal, state and local governments, business, communities, academia and the news media.

   People want environmental information to help them  make environmental decisions - whether it's about
   energy savings, climate change, drinking water quality,  the effects from natural disasters, or exposures
   to chemicals. Today's generation expects to locate this information in seconds, not in days, or hours, or
   minutes.

   The World Wide Web  continues to grow exponentially as both a resource  for information and avenue
   for social  networking.  As more and more information  is made available on the Internet, searching for
   and organizing information becomes a bigger challenge. How do we ensure  that we are getting the right
   data and information to the right people at the right time?

   With these three things coming  together - providing access  to information to our customers and
   partners;  the increasing demand for  environmental  information;  and the exploding  resources on the
   Internet - it means that EPA must find ways to organize our vast information resources for better access
   and sharing, and leverage technologies to support these  activities. This  means treating environmental
   information as a strategic asset. The National Dialogue will help us to build that strategy.
What Is Our Approach?

   The Dialogue will offer a variety of forums for participation: online and in-person forums, stakeholder
   sessions, and special events. At those different events and on the National Dialogue Web site, you can
   help by suggesting actions EPA should take to improve information access.

   The Web site (www.epa.gov/nationaldialogue) has an area for comments. As the National Dialogue
   progresses, the site will include more interactive features to facilitate greater participation.

   After we hear from participants about information needs, we will develop a multi-year strategy detailing the
   steps EPA could take to ensure greater access to environmental information.  We will identify and
   implement some changes while we are developing the strategy. Other changes will be implemented over
   the next several years.

                 National Dialogue Web Site - www.epa. gov/nationaldialogue

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                National Dialogue on Access to Environmental Information
Who Can Participate in the Dialogue?

   All interested individuals are welcome to participate, including:
    Concerned citizens
    Parents
    Regulated Community
    Industry
    Government Environmental Agencies
    Environmental and Community Groups (NGOs)
    EPA Employees
Researchers, and Librarians
Educators, Students
Partners
Small Business
Public Health Agencies
Media
Individuals
What Is Our Timeline?

   The National Dialogue on Access to Environmental Information is scheduled throughout this year and
   will be completed in October 2008. Throughout this period, we will be getting feedback from our
   participants, hosting events, and compiling our findings. Below are key milestones  of the National
   Dialogue.

         Molly A. O'Neill, EPA's Chief Information Officer announced the National Dialogue at the
         National Environmental Information Symposium in St. Louis in November 2007.

         EPA launched the National Dialogue Web site so interested members of the public can  provide
         their thoughts, experiences, and expectations on important information topics.

         The National Dialogue will offer a variety of forums for public input, including a few special
         events that participants may wish to attend in person. EPA will update the National Dialogue
         Web site to provide feedback about what we're hearing in the various forums.

         EPA will compile what we are learning into a strategy document during the summer. We expect
         that it will be available to review in the late summer so we can have an initial product by October
         2008.

For More  Information

   To learn more about the National Dialogue on Access to Environmental Information and to participate, visit
   the National Dialogue Web Site. For additional questions, e-mail us at NationalDialogue@epa.gov.
                  National Dialogue Web Site - www.epa.gov/nationaldialogue

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