Pub. #: 260R15002
U.S. EPA
Office of
Environmental
Information
FY 2016-2017
National Program Manager
Guidance
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Executive
Summary 2
II. National Areas of
Focus 4
A. Working to Make a Visible Difference in Communities 4
B. Data Analytics 5
C. Data and Content Management 6
D. Information Security 8
E. EPA Geospatial Platform 8
F. Exchange Network 9
G. Moving EPA to a High Performing Organization 12
H. Toxic Release Inventory 12
I. EPA Quality Program 13
J. Section 508 Program 15
III. Shared Services 16
A. Facility Registry Service (FRS) Data Quality 16
B. Substance Registry Service 17
C. Shared CROMERR Services 18
D. Universal Identity and Access Management 19
OEI National Program Manager Guidance Appendices:
• Appendix A: OEI Explanation of Changes from FY 2014 to FY 2016-2017 - 21
• Appendix B: OEI National Program Manager Guidance Contacts — 23
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OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
FISCAL YEAR 2016-2017 NATIONAL PROGRAM
MANAGER GUIDANCE
OVERVIEW
The EPA Overview to the FY 2016-2017 NPM Guidances communicates Agency-wide
information as well as other applicable requirements critical to effective implementation of
EPA's environmental programs for FY 2016 and 2017 and should be reviewed in conjunction
with this Guidance. The Overview is available at: http://www2.epa.gov/planandbudget/national-
program-manager-guidances.
I. INTRODUCTION
The Office of Environmental Information (OEI) National Program Manager (NPM) Guidance
for FY 2016-2017 describes how program priorities, implementation strategies, and key actions
will support government-wide initiatives and improve operational effectiveness and efficiency of
EPA's programs while supporting increased transparency and quality of environmental data.
This Guidance describes key actions OEI will undertake, with support from across EPA, and
with states, tribes, and territories in FY 2016-2017. The mission and vision directly support the
Administrator's themes, the Agency Strategic Plan, and Cross-Agency Strategies.
As part of the process for identifying national priorities, OEI sought early input from states and
tribes on priorities and remaining content of the FY 2016-2017 NPM Guidance. OEI issued a
letter to state and tribal contacts requesting early engagement in June and hosted two conference
calls (in August and September 2014) to solicit input from participants. OEI took this input into
account when developing this Guidance.
In this period of declining resources, OEI understands the need to work with states and tribes to
consolidate the workload and leverage resources to more efficiently meet our mission. OEI
recognizes the importance of flexibility and will work with states and tribes as needed to ensure
continuity in implementing our program priorities and activities.
OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION
Knowledge on Demand:
Secure and easy access to, and ability to use and share within EPA and by our stakeholders,
quality information to accomplish the Agency's mission.
Over the next two years, OEI will focus on providing service excellence, continue to adopt the
"share first" culture, and lead the effort in managing and protecting information. This focus will
facilitate the transformation of turning data into information and information into knowledge to
accomplish our vision: knowledge on demand. OEI relies on its greatest asset, its people, to turn
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this vision into reality. To support this, OEI will develop a strong workforce of employees and
leaders equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to establish an environment that
encourages continuous learning.
Within the Agency, OEI serves to deliver information, technology and services to advance the
protection of human health and the environment. OEI's foundational leadership values: vision,
integrity, resilience, talent management, unity and excellence (VIRTUE) support the overall
goals and mission of OEI to lead, innovate, and transform how EPA uses information in FY 2016
and beyond.
As an office that supports achievement of all Agency environmental programs and EPA's NPM
for Information, the Chief Information Officer (CIO), has a set vision in which information is
readily available and serves as a strategic resource for protecting the environment and human
health.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
OEI's NPM Guidance describes, in general terms, the work that needs to be done in FY 2016-
2017 to support the Administrator's themes, EPA's FY 2014-2018 Strategic Plan, and the Cross
Agency Strategies towards OEI's mission. OEI is providing guidance in the interest of
transparency and to enhance emphasis within the Agency.
As described through this Guidance, the key to transforming and improving operations relies on
shared Information Management/Information Technology (EVI/IT) solutions and platforms. This
Guidance is provided with the expectation that all EPA organizations participate in consistent
application of the most effective platforms to enhance the IT effort.
II. NATIONAL AREAS OF FOCUS
A. Working to Make a Visible Difference in Communities
Description:
The EPA is continuing efforts to engage and empower communities and partners, including those
who have been historically under-represented, in order to support and advance environmental
protection and human health nationwide. In FY 2016 and 2017, OEI will continue to expand the
conversation on environmentalism by leveraging EPA's Open Government Plan to improve
access to environmental data while also engaging and empowering communities and partners.
Increasing the availability of publicly accessible Agency data increases transparency, expands
public participation and encourages collaboration among stakeholders to find solutions for
environmental problems. EPA continues to expand community involvement and engagement and
recognizes that some information cannot be shared due to security and other reasons. EPA
commits to working with the tribes to develop approaches to strike this balance by determining
the ways the tribes can report all their data to EPA and indicate which data they would like used
for internal purposes only.
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Activities:
In FY 2016 and 2017, OEI will:
• Develop, implement and maintain an efficient system to track and report on EPA's
progress towards implementation of Open Government requirements related to cataloging
and publishing data resources;
• Maintain a robust inventory of EPA's data assets;
• Support EPA efforts to catalog at least 60 new datasets and publish their data via Web
services and add over 5 applications to Data.gov to improve access to EPA's data in
support of community and citizen involvement in environmental decision-making; and
• Collaborate with the programs across government to integrate systems and processes,
particularly with standards implementation, code development, the Systems of Registries,
the Science Hub and others.
EPA programs and regions will work together to make a visible difference in communities by:
• Instilling a culture of data life cycle management within the EPA by providing tools,
building networks of stewards, training users and establishing routine practices to catalog
information resources into Agency registers and catalog;
• Publishing data via Web services and Web Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to
support public inquiry and economic progress, as well as providing tools to simplify
processes and tasks;
• Supporting Data.gov and the Federal GeoPlatform communities, which focus and
facilitate public discussion on topics such as Climate Change, Geospatial, Energy, Law
and Ocean data; and
• Promoting opportunities for the public to participate and collaborate in the decision-
making processes and development of solutions supporting the Agency's missions and
objectives, such as Regulations.gov.
B. Data Analytics
Description:
Recent rapid advances in analytical techniques and technologies have provided EPA with
significant opportunities to harness the power of its data to realize better environmental
outcomes. OEI established a pilot advanced data analytics and visualization platform to take
advantage of these tools across the EPA enterprise. This platform provides advanced analytical
and visualization tools, along with support for analysts across the EPA. The advanced data
analytics platform is designed to leverage data by easily combining existing Agency data stores
alone or in combination with data from Agency partners for advanced analysis. The products of
these analyses can be easily visualized using tools designed for power and ease of use without
significant computer programming skills. The results of these analyses can be used internally and
shared with our partners to enhance administrative, operational and environmental outcomes.
The platform provides new ways for improved knowledge on demand to help EPA provide better
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activity targeting, more efficient use of Agency taxpayer resources, and better evidence-driven
decisions for the EPA and communities.
Activities:
In FY 2016 - 2017, OEI will:
• Lead and foster an EPA-wide community of practice designed to share information and
knowledge that can benefit all EPA staff performing advanced data analytics;
• Maintain the preliminary advanced analytics platform for continuity of existing projects
and enhance the advanced analytics platform based on requirements gathered from EPA
users of our preliminary system;
• Identify training needs and provide access to identified training for adopters of the
advanced data analytics platform; and
• Work with other Federal entities who are using or developing advanced analytics
capabilities to share knowledge and broker improved data sharing and analytics across
the Federal landscape.
EPA's programs and regions will work together to help develop, implement and use the data
analytics platform by:
• Identifying platform technical requirements, data needs and processes for managing data
in the context of the advanced data analytics platform through participation in the
agency-wide community of practice;
• Developing and proposing use-cases for implementation within the data analytics
platform designed to take full advantage of the capabilities inherent to the platform and to
address clear Agency business needs; and
• Taking advantage of the platform to perform analyses that fit regional and programmatic
business needs and share those results to harness the power of data across the EPA and
our partners.
C. Data and Content Management
Description:
The EPA continues to manage the Agency's information as strategic assets to ensure Agency
information is easy to discover, understand, access, analyze and use within a broad array of
applications that support the Agency's mission and stakeholders' needs. Improved information
management will also facilitate the access of information requested under the Freedom of
Information Act and improve EPA's ability to be more comprehensive and exacting when
applying its eDiscovery tools; each of which currently pose significant demands on staff
resources.
EPA shall ensure information resources are:
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• Managed according to a defined information life cycle process (appropriate for the
information type) and in accordance with enterprise systems and solutions;
• Catalogued and/or labeled with metadata, including geographic references, as
appropriate, in EPA and Federal registries, repositories or other information systems;
• Developed, maintained, and preserved in open digital, machine-readable formats using
established standards that make information discoverable and accessible, where
appropriate and feasible; and
• Open and publically accessible, unless there is a documented National Security
Information (NSI) or Controlled Unclassified Information (GUI) requirement outlined
within a statute/law, regulation, and/or government-wide policy, or unless otherwise
protected from disclosure under federal law or EPA regulation. In these cases, internal,
external, and associated safeguards must be instituted.
Activities:
In FY 2016-2017, OEIwill:
• Finalize the EPA Life-Cycle Management Procedure and Dataset Lifecycle Technical
Reference Specification;
• Refine the EPA Enterprise Data Inventory and data stewardship process;
• Work with NPMs as they develop metadata requirements for their program specific
information;
• Provide guidance to personnel on storing electronic records - both email and non-email
records - in the Electronic Content Management System/Documentum records
repository;
• Develop processes and tools to facilitate and improve internal FOIA processes;
• Provide annual training to FOIA Officers and FOIA Professionals;
• Provide guidance to ensure all new datasets created are in open, machine-readable
formats;
• Develop and provide agency-wide annual Records Management training;
• Focus on communications to encourage records management through efforts such as
Quarterly Records Management Days to emphasize the importance of records
management;
• Support Records Liaison Officers and encourage them to reach out to their staff;
• Encourage staff to continue to place their email records into the EZ Email Records Tool;
• Continue to work with Programs and Regions on transferring electronic records to the
ECMS/Documentum records repository; and
• Develop the EPA GUI Procedure.
In FY 2016-2017, NPMs and Regions will:
• Continue to provide quarterly updates to the EPA Enterprise Data Inventory as required
by OMB and participate in the EPA-wide data stewardship network as applicable;
• Ensure all employees take annual Records Management training;
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• Promote quarterly Records Management Day within each organization to emphasize the
importance of records management;
• Communicate consolidated records schedules and provide assistance in their
implementation; and
• Store electronic records - both email and non-email records - in the ECMS/Documentum
records repository as guidance becomes available.
D. Information Security
Description:
Information is a valuable national resource and a strategic asset to EPA. It enables each program
office and region to fulfill their mission to protect human health and the environment. The
Agency's Information Security program is designed to protect the confidentiality, availability
and integrity of the EPA's information assets. Effective information security requires constant
vigilance, adaptability to emerging technology, integration into business processes, and agility to
stay ahead of new and changing threats.
Activities:
In FY 2016-2017, OEI will:
• Refine incident management capabilities;
• Measure performance;
• Use Personal Identity Verification (PIV) cards to expand multi-factor authentication
protections; and
• Continue to improve user awareness and foster desired behavior.
The EPA's senior leaders will emphasize accountability for adequately protecting information.
In FY 2016-2017, OEI will work with programs and regions to:
• Re-design the Information Security Officer structure to enable consistent, effective and
efficient Information Security Program operations;
• Drive efficiencies into security activities;
• Improve requirements communications;
• Mature use of continuous monitoring tools and processes; and
• Focus training on EPA security processes.
E. EPA Geospatial Platform
Description:
The EPA has historically been at the forefront of integrating place-based approaches into its
environmental program efforts. Geospatial technology has become ubiquitous, and the growth in
use of these technologies has been extremely rapid. The EPA Geospatial Platform is a shared
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infrastructure to support coordinated Agency-wide use of geospatial technology to advance its
mission. More information about the EPA Geospatial Platform can be found at
http ://www. epa.gov/geospatial/
Activities:
In FY 2016-2017, OEIwill:
• Ensure that the GeoPlatform is fully operational and used as the solution of choice by all
Agency programs;
• Develop GeoPlatform smart tools and data services to support the EPA Cross-Agency
Strategy for Communities;
• Develop and enhance GeoPlatform capabilities to support EPA's advanced data
visualization and analysis initiative and E-Enterprise;
• Ensure that the usage of the GeoPlatform continues to expand within EPA with
GeoPlatform access available to all EPA users via EPA Enterprise Single-Sign on; fully
integrate the GeoPlatform with other EPA collaboration platforms including SharePoint,
Office 365, and the Drupal Web Content Management System (WCMS); use the
GeoPlatform to publish internal and public mapping tools increasing the number of
shareable maps, geodata services, and applications by at least 30% during FY16;
• Continue to play a leadership role in both the Federal Geographic Data Committee and
the National Geospatial Platform, working with partner agencies to share geospatial
technology capabilities across government; and
• Centrally track geospatial software, data licenses, and infrastructure services to support
the Geospatial Program and GeoPlatform. OEI will develop options to present to the
Quality Information Council (QIC) for allocating costs for the program and GeoPlatform
across the Agency.
EPA programs and regions will support implementation and adoption of the EPA GeoPlatform
through geospatial leads in each program office and region, provide input on key aspects of
GeoPlatform development and associated governance issues; and:
• Coordinate web mapping application development and deployment efforts within their
office to assure that the GeoPlatform and associated enterprise licenses are being
leveraged, and relevant geospatial data services are published using the EPA
GeoPlatform and the EPA Environmental Dataset Gateway; and
• Serve as the point of contact for GIS user support and training for both desktop analysis
and EPA GeoPlatform components.
F. Exchange Network
Description:
The Environmental Information Exchange Network (Exchange Network or EN) is a partnership
among the EPA, states, tribes and territories to exchange environmental data securely over the
Internet. This collaborative effort uses technology, data standards, open-source software, shared
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services and reusable tools and applications to provide real-time access to high quality data. It
provides significant benefits to both the EPA and its partners by improving information quality,
timeliness, availability and efficiency. The Exchange Network partnership continues to improve
the nation's ability to understand, protect and preserve human health and the environment,
supporting better environmental decision-making.
The EN program works to improve data access, availability and integration and enhance inter-
and intra-partner data exchange by:
• Building Web services to expand Network publishing (data owners making their
information available in standard machine-readable formats to other partners on the
Network using automated services);
• Developing mobile, desktop and Web applications that consume data via Web services
and present information to users for analysis and access;
• Expanding the use of the Network for data reporting to additional EPA systems;
• Expanding inter- and intra-partner data sharing including programs where EPA does not
have a central data store (e.g., institutional controls for cleanup sites);
• Expanding the use of the Network for meeting goals related to transparency and open
data;
• Developing new technologies that make using the Network easier and less costly; and
• Leveraging the Network as needed for industry reporting to the Agency and its co-
regulators.
The EPA will continue to strengthen its partnerships with states, tribes and territories through
assistance agreements to partner organizations. The Exchange Network Grant Program provides
funding to states, territories and tribes to support their participation in the Network. These grants
help partners develop services, tools and applications that support efficient, open and timely
access to environmental data. The EPA will also continue to support Exchange Network partners
via cooperative agreements with collaborative organizations. The agreements will support EN
governance and shared central services; create and maintain vital network resources; and provide
technical assistance, communications and outreach to the states, territories and tribes. The
Institute of Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) agreement will support tribal participation
in the Exchange Network governance structure, provide outreach and promote collaboration
amongst tribal stakeholders. More information about the EN program can be found at
http://www.epa.gov/exchangenetwork/
Activities:
In FY 2016 and 2017, OEI will:
• Support the state, tribal and territorial participation in the Exchange Network partnership
through cooperative agreements with the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS)
and ITEP;
• Manage the Exchange Network Grant Program and provide funding to states, tribes and
territories to develop services, tools and applications enabling the secure and efficient
transfer of environmental information among trading partners;
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Expand from 77 to 80 the number of major EPA environmental systems that use Central
Data Exchange (CDX), enabling faster receipt, processing and quality checking of data;
Increase from 103 to 140 the number of states, tribes and territories that will be able to
exchange data with CDX through nodes in real time, using standards and automated data-
quality checking;
Increase from 84,000 to 90,000, the number of active unique users from states, tribes,
laboratories, regulated facilities and other entities that electronically report environmental
data to EPA through CDX;
Conduct robust outreach activities to increase awareness of virtual exchange and
CROMERR shared services and assist exchange partners with integrating these services
into their systems; and
Continue implementing tools, such as online application forms, to improve CROMERR
application processing and improve outreach on reusable solutions and status of
applications.
To support the Exchange Network, EPA programs and regions will:
• Adhere to the requirements of the Data Exchange Procedure (CIO Transmittal No. 11-
002) and ensure that EPA information collection applications are designed for
interoperability with CDX services;
• Request that program grant recipients make specific commitments for using the
Exchange Network for the ongoing exchange of data with Agency priority data systems;
• Support state, tribal and territorial participation and technical review in the Exchange
Network grant program; and
• Participate in joint EPA-state-tribal governance groups and Integrated Project Teams
(IPTs) under the Exchange Network Leadership Council (ELNC) and the 2017 Exchange
Network National Meeting.
States, tribes and territories can support the Exchange Network by:
• Participating in EPA's Exchange Network grant program to develop services, tools and
applications to improve and expand the exchange of environmental information between
partners, which will strengthen relationships among state, tribal and territorial
governments and the EPA;
• Participate in EPA-state-tribal governance bodies supporting the Exchange Network,
such as the ENLC;
• Participate in IPTs with OEI, programs and regions to address specific information
management or partnership issues; and
• Participate in the 2017 Exchange Network National Meeting, which is attended by
representatives from EPA, states, tribes and territories. OEI will support the meeting's
planning and will actively participate as moderators and presenters.
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G. Moving EPA to a High-Performing Organization
Description:
EPA is committed to developing employees, creating a supportive work environment, and
streamlining and modernizing business processes to build a high-performing organization. OEI
will continue to incorporate the E-Enterprise business strategy for rethinking how government
agencies deliver environmental protection. OEI will continue to facilitate shared services and
electronic transactions with the regulated community and external partners who routinely
conduct environmental business with the EPA. In FY 2016-17, OEI will also support the
introduction of data analytics, visualization, and predictive analysis that will help the Agency
explore and address environmental, business and public policy challenges. These activities
support the efforts undertaken in the Cross-Agency Strategy "Embracing EPA as a High
Performing Organization FY 2015 Annual Action Plan." More information about this Plan can
be found at http://www2.epa.gov/planandbudget/fy-2015-cross-agency-strategies-action-plans.
Activities:
In FY 2016-2017, OEI will work with NPMs and Regions to:
• Advance efforts to maintain cloud computing technologies through the use of an
enterprise-wide cloud hosting service;
• Continue to modernize the Agency's IT environment to ensure that the technologies are
efficient and compatible and are meeting the needs of the EPA workforce with a focus in
FY 2016 on implementing a strategy, framework and associated governance structure to
consolidate, retire and/or migrate Lotus Notes/Domino and applications. Program offices
and regions will implement the Lotus Notes/Domino Application under the oversight of
the QTS starting in 2016 and extend through 2018;
• Continue leading agency-wide efforts to consolidate EPA data centers and computer
rooms and to optimize operations within EPA's remaining Core and Non-Core data
centers;
• Maintain and provision desktop computing equipment, network connectivity, e-mail and
collaboration tools, application hosting, remote access, telephone services, and Web and
network services, and other IT-related equipment to modernize Agency business
practices; and
• Provide support for software to assist EPA's inspectors in the field consistent with core
inspection processes and mobile management of inspections and inspection data. Support
for software assisting EPA inspectors will be of considerable importance in areas such as
identifying and downloading regulatory requirements, tying in various information
sources such as TRI and NEI data where appropriate, and utilizing common data
standards.
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H.Toxics Release Inventory
Description:
The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Program is the EPA's flagship Community Right-to-Know
program requiring more than 20,000 industrial facilities across the United States to report on an
annual basis their releases and other waste management (e.g., recycling) on more than 600 TRI-
listed toxic chemicals. The TRI data are used by the public, industry, EPA, and other
government agencies to assess potential hazards to human health and the environment and to
identify pollution prevention (P2) opportunities. As such, it is critical that the Agency ensure the
data are relevant to users, delivered in a timely fashion, and are of the highest possible quality.
More information about the TRI Program can be found at http://www.epa.gov/tri.
Activities:
In FY 2016 - 2017, OEI will:
• Address the growing demand for sustainability and P2 data through outreach to industry
and enhancements to the TRI reporting software, TRI-MEweb, that increase and enhance
reporting of required and optional P2 information;
• Identify new opportunities to encourage the use of TRI data to promote P2 by
communities, industry, and academia;
• Collaborate with academic institutions to broaden the understanding and use of TRI data;
and
• Provide opportunities for consultation with tribal governments on issues that may affect
tribal interests.
The TRI Program and regions will work together to implement the TRI Program to:
• Enhance the TRI data quality by conducting 600 annual data quality checks;
• Utilize outreach opportunities to focus on expanding the use of P2 data by communities,
industry, and academia to reduce toxic chemical releases;
• Support the expansion of efforts to develop approaches to engage communities, industry,
and academia in using TRI and related information; and
• Meet with headquarters' staff on a monthly basis and headquarters and state TRI
representatives on a bi-monthly basis to discuss programmatic activities.
I. EPA Quality Program
Description:
OEI will continue to implement a program that enhances the quality of data and information used
in environmental decision-making. OEI will provide Quality Assurance (QA) policies,
procedures, standards, guidance, training and technical support to assist EPA organizations in the
implementation of their quality management system. OEI will also provide oversight of the
quality programs being implemented by EPA organizations to ensure the environmental data
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being collected, produced, and used by organizations is of appropriate quality for its intended
use. Additionally, OEI will continue to use technology tools to improve the effectiveness of the
EPA Quality Program. More information about the EPA Quality Program can be found at
http ://www. epa.gov/quality.
Activities:
In FY 2016 and 2017 OEI will:
• Develop and implement an EPA Quality Policy Framework for environmental
information;
• Conduct Quality Management Plan Reviews, Quality System Assessments, evaluations
of notifications1 to the CIO of QA issues;
• Provide technical support and guidance to EPA organizations implementing the EPA
Quality Management System;
• Use recommendations from the FY15 QA Reporting Lean Project to track and report on
progress in implementing EPA's Quality Program;
• Develop knowledge management and decision support tools to facilitate knowledge
sharing and consistency for implementation of the EPA Quality Program across the
Agency;
• Oversee Agency implementation of EPA Information Quality Guidelines (IQGs) and
facilitate the development of Agency responses to the public's request for correction of
EPA disseminated information;
• Use the Lean process to streamline the EPA's process for responding to Information
Quality Guidelines (IQG) requests;
• Issue a revised EPA Quality Policy and Procedure based on the EPA Quality Policy
Framework for environmental information;
• Oversee the implementation of the Agency's Quality Management System by conducting
Quality Management Plan Reviews and Quality System Assessments, by evaluating any
CIO notifications2 of QA issues, and by implementing process improvements, where
appropriate;
• Provide technical support and guidance to EPA organizations implementing the EPA
Quality Management System;
• Develop knowledge management and decision support tools to facilitate knowledge
sharing and consistency across the Agency; and
• Oversee Agency implementation of EPA Information Quality Guidelines (IQGs) and
facilitate the development of Agency responses to the public's request for correction of
EPA disseminated information.
EPA programs and regions should work together with OEI to:
• Support, and implement the development of the EPA Quality Policy Framework for
environmental information by participating in Agency workgroups and provide feedback
on OEI recommendations;
1 CIO 2106-P-01, EPA Quality Policy. (Section G)
2 CIO 2106-P-01, EPA Quality Policy. (Section G)
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Implement their organization's Quality Management System and ensure it complies with
the requirements found in CIO Policy 2105.03 and CIO Procedure 2105-P-014.
Ensure that quality issues that impact the EPA Quality Management System are reported
to the CIO in accordance with Section G of CIO 2106-P-01;
Implement the QA Reporting process to track and report on the status of their Quality
Management System;
Ensure that IQG responses that challenge their organization's disseminated information
are completed in a timely manner;
Develop a new EPA Quality Policy by participating in Agency workgroups and provide
feedback on OEI recommendations; and
Develop a meaningful set of metrics and implement the QA Reporting process to report
on the status of their Quality Management System.
J. Section 508 Program
Description:
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended in 1998, requires the Federal
government to ensure that the electronic and information technology (EIT) that it develops,
procures, maintains, or uses is accessible to persons with disabilities. The EPA created a Section
508 Program to provide resources and support for the Agency and its stakeholders and to make
sure the Agency complies with Section 508 requirements. Technology is constantly evolving and
the Agency must continue to assess its EIT and Section 508 Program to ensure both are enabling
accessibility effectively. In FY 2016 and 2017, OEI will continue to expand the Section 508
Program to improve accessibility of all Agency EIT developed, procured, maintained or used.
Activities:
In F Y 2016 and 2017, OEI will:
• Co-Chair the Section 508 Executive Council which guides the Agency's Section 508
Program in the areas of procurement, grants, 508 compliance and usability testing,
program assurance (Office of Management and Budget reporting and metrics), training,
outreach, resources, and policy. The council will make recommendations on ways to
improve the 508 Program to the EPA Chief Information Officer;
• Review and update the Section 508 Procedures and develop additional standards and
guidance as needed to provide more support and clarity on achieving accessibility;
• Review and provide appropriate Section 508 language for other Agency policies,
specifically EIT Lifecycle documents;
3 CIO 2105.0, Policy And Program Requirements For The Mandatory Agency-Wide Quality System
4 CIO 2105-P-01, EPA Quality Manual for Environmental Programs
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• Solicit feedback from program and regional offices as well as the stakeholder
communities, including the Section 508 Community Forum, to monitor progress and
improve the Section 508 Program and its services;
• Track and report biannually to OMB on the progress of the EPA Section 508 program
(OMB Dashboard/Reporting Template & narrative report);
• Continue to provide the EPA with training resources (508 awareness, accessible E&IT
training, and 508 acquisition language courses);
• Improve communication across EPA by providing information, training, and resources on
Section 508 via EPA 508 intranet site. OEI will continue to update the EPA 508 intranet
site with new fact sheets and guidance.
The EPA's programs and regions will work together to achieve awareness, compliance and
accountability with Section 508 requirements by:
• Providing opportunities for Agency staff to participate and collaborate on the
development of accessibility solutions and best practices. This includes utilization of a
community forum list-serve to engage the community and exchange information;
• Supporting the Agency in improving accountability and transparency by assisting OEI in
gathering data needed to answer the biannual OMB Section 508 report;
• Sharing existing 508 resources and training information to increase awareness across
EPA; and
• Ensuring that EIT developed, procured, maintained, and used at EPA is accessible and in
compliance with Section 508 requirements.
III. Shared Services
A. Facility Registry Service (FRS) Data Quality
Description:
The Facilities Registry Service (FRS) integrates data from over 90 different datasets and assigns
a unique identifier to facilities, sites or places of interest from 22 program offices as well as 57
states, tribes and territories. FRS improves program facility data quality from roughly 40% to
over 95% by selecting representative geospatial data, along with integrating contact, corporate
and location information from multiple data sources. This allows EPA, the public, academic and
investment communities to evaluate compliance with multiple environmental regulations. In
addition, by providing a robust and complete view of facility information, FRS facilitates cross-
media analyses, including community-based initiatives, environmental justice analyses, National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) assessments and emergency response efforts. More
information on FRS can be found at http://www.epa.gov/frs.
Activities:
In FY 2016 and 2017, OEI will:
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• Continue to improve the quality of EPA data on regulated facilities and their locations by
continually upgrading data stewardship tools, making processing more transparent;
engaging states to utilize FRS data; developing improved tools for identifying and
correcting data errors; and building a network of data stewards;
• Continue to work with states to develop and implement a universally-utilized facility
identifier, shared services and a master data exchange standard; and
• Leverage facility data to improve the EPA customer experience and context through an
EPA E-Enterprise Portal.
To support the FRS, EPA programs and regions will:
• Work with OEI to identify integration opportunities of facility look up services with EPA
program and partner systems to improve data consistency, quality and integrity; and
• Promote and participate in a national program of data stewardship.
B. Substance Registry Services
Description:
The Substance Registry Services (SRS) is the centralized inventory of substances that are tracked
or regulated across EPA. It identifies which EPA programs manage data on certain substances
and synonyms used for those substances. SRS is also a one-stop resource for learning basic
information about substances and includes relevant links to health and safety factsheets and
websites.
The EPA created the SRS to centralize discovery of chemical data at EPA, enable integration of
EPA data by substance, improve data quality of substance identity information and promote
standardization of substance names. EPA programs, states and tribes integrate SRS Web Services
into their online reporting forms to help industry and other partners submit accurate chemical
identification information. This service prevents submitters from entering inaccurate substance
names, thus reducing costs for the programs because there are fewer data quality issues.
Activities:
In FY 2016 and 2017, OEI will:
• Coordinate with the EPA (and state) programs to integrate SRS into their online reporting
forms;
• Work with state and tribal agencies to add their programmatic lists to SRS to enable
cross-walking state and tribal substance information with EPA programmatic substance
information;
• Create a Chemicals Resource Directory that will serve as a one-stop tool to help the
public discover EPA websites for industry reporting on chemicals, health effects about
chemicals, EPA databases for learning about chemicals and scientific resources;
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• Continue to improve the data quality of the programmatic lists in SRS by working with
EPA (and state) programs to ensure that SRS reflects the most current programmatic
information; and
• Integrate SRS with the proposed Laws and Regulations Registry so that SRS uses the
standardized nomenclature for laws and regulations to improve customer experience and
context through an EPA E-Enterprise Portal.
To support the SRS, EPA programs and regions will:
• Work with OEI to identify integration opportunities of substance look up services with
EPA program and partner systems to improve data consistency, quality and integrity; and
• Promote and participate in a national program of data stewardship.
C. Shared CROMERR Services
Description:
The Cross-Media Electronic Reporting Rule (CROMERR) sets mandatory standards for states
and other co-regulators with existing and planned e-reporting systems. CROMERR applies to
industry submissions to all authorized programs as required under CFR 40. In order to ensure
the integrity and legal admissibility of reports, CROMERR establishes technology neutral
standards and processes in four primary areas:
• Registering and verifying identities of reporters;
• Electronically signing documents;
• Providing copies of record; and
• Ensuring integrity through chain of custody procedures.
To date, co-regulators have built and are maintaining their own services to meet CROMERR
requirements. In order to reduce burden on co-regulators from building CROMERR solutions
independently, EPA has developed CROMERR compliant services that can be leveraged by
multiple co-regulators and implemented in their own system environments. Co-regulators
interested in leveraging these services have the option to use one, many or all services made
available by EPA. By managing these services centrally, it reduces development and operations
costs and streamlines the approval process for new reporting systems. These services are built to
work behind the scenes of co-regulator systems so they can maintain their identities as sovereign
organizations.
Activities:
In FY 2016 and 2017, OEI will:
• Continue to roll out CROMERR services to co-regulators as requested;
• Support existing co-regulators implementing Shared CROMERR Services through a
customer Helpdesk;
• Improve upon existing services to make them as easy as possible to implement; and
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• Work with co-regulators to identify and implement new services to increase efficiency at
a national level.
To support CROMERR Shared Services, EPA regions and co-regulators will:
• Identify candidate co-regulator systems that may leverage CROMERR Services;
• Assist in educating and informing co-regulators about CROMERR services; and
• Facilitate dialog between co-regulators and OEI to determine electronic reporting
requirements.
D.Enterprise Identity and Access Management
Description:
Enterprise Identity and Access Management (EIAM) is an identity system that supports sharing
identities across multiple enterprise systems in order to provide single sign-on and seamless
navigation across EPA and partner portals and applications. It is a set of standards-based
technologies that has a minimal footprint on adopters and is capable of supporting authentication
at third parties as well as at EPA and partner state sites.
EIAM establishes technology neutral standards and processes for the following:
Sharing identities provided by third party providers that use the same trusted framework
(e.g., Google, Paypal);
• Sharing EPA identities with external relying parties (partners);
• Facilitating the federation of user identities using trusted security tokens ;
• Managing and converting protocols and attributes to insulate adopters from complexities;
and
• Creating a central security authority which is trusted by all applications within the scope
of the Enterprise.
The foundation of sharing digital identities is based on security trusts between the Relying Party
(e.g. a website) and the Identity Provider (e.g. PayPal). The Relying Party has sufficient
confidence that the identity provider implements enough security assurance that the
authenticated user is genuine and trustworthy. On the other side, the identity provider's security
policies allow the relying party to use its security services and user identities.
EIAM reduces burden on partners by:
• Reusing identities across the enterprise;
• Reducing redundant registrations;
• Improving user access to services; and
• Simplifying navigation across the enterprise.
Currently EPA and its partner organizations have identity systems that are independent of each
other, and navigating across partner systems require user authentication multiple times. EPA has
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prototyped the EIAM services that could be leveraged by partners and easily integrated in their
own system environments.
Activities:
In FY 2016 and 2017, OEI will:
• Continue to enhance and expand the prototype services for partners as requirements
evolve;
• Support existing partners integrating the services through a customer helpdesk;
• Improve upon existing services to make them as easy as possible to implement; and
• Work with partners to identify and implement new services to increase efficiency at a
national level.
To support EIAM, EPA regions and partners will:
• Identify candidate systems that can benefit from the services;
• Assist in educating and informing partners about the services; and
• Facilitate dialog between partners and OEI to determine additional requirements.
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Appendix A: OEI Explanation of Changes from FY 2014 to FY 2016-2017
Change from FY 2014 and FY 2015 Addendums to FY 2016-
2017 NPM Guidances
General
Shift in OEI vision to focus on "Knowledge on
Demand: Secure and easy access to, and ability
to use and share within EPA and by our
stakeholders, quality information to accomplish
the Agency's mission."
Reason for Change
Over the next two years, OEI will focus on
providing service excellence, continue to
adopt the "share first" culture, and lead the
effort in managing and protecting
information.
Location of New/Modified
Information
Introduction, page 3
National
Areas of
Focus
"Expanding the Conversation on
Environmentalism" renamed to "Working to
Make a Visible Difference in Communities."
Captures work completed under the current
Cross-Agency Strategy
Working to Make a Visible
Difference in Communities, page
4
National
Areas of
Focus
Removed "State and Tribal and International
Relationships" section
State and Tribal activities are specified within
each National Area of Focus
n/a
National
Areas of
Focus
Added "Data Analytics" section
Recent advances in analytical techniques and
technologies have provided EPA with
significant opportunities to harness the
power of its data to realize better
environmental outcomes.
Data Analytics, page 5
National
Areas of
Focus
"Moving EPA to a High Performing
Organization" replaces "Strengthening EPA's
Workforce and Capabilities"
Captures work completed under the current
Cross-Agency Strategy
Moving EPA to a High
Performing Organization, page
12
National
Areas of
Focus
Removed "E-Enterprise" section
E-Enterprise activities, that are supported by
OEI, are captured throughout the document
"Geospatial Platform; Moving
EPA to a High Performing
Organization; Exchange
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Network; Facility Registry
Service; Substance Registry
Service; Shared CROMERR
Services; and Enterprise
Identity and Access
Management" sections
Program-
Specific
Guidance
Removed "One EPA Web"
Work captured under "Moving EPA to a High
Performing Organization" section
n/a
Program-
Specific
Guidance
Removed "Expanding the Use of EZ Tech and
Moving to a More Enterprise-Wide Entity"
Not applicable for FY 2016-2017
n/a
Program-
Specific
Guidance
Added "Substance Registry Services"
Captures program-specific work planned for
FY 2016-2017
Substance Registry Services,
page 17
Program-
Specific
Guidance
Added "Enterprise Identity and Access
Management"
Captures program-specific work planned for
FY 2016-2017
Enterprise Identity and Access
Management, page 19
Annual
Commitment
Measures
n/a
n/a
n/a
Contact
Information
n/a
n/a
n/a
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KEY CONTACTS APPENDIX
Contact Name
Laura Palmer
Subject Area
OEI, Office of Program
Management, Resource
and Information
Management Staff
Director
Phone
Email
202-5664-0726 Palmer.Laura@epa.gov
Jill Smink
OEI, Office of Program
Management, Resource
and Information
Management Senior
Planner
202-540-9196
Smink.Jill@epa.gov
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