Fiscal Year 2015 National Environmental Information Exchange Network Grant Program

ISBN-13: 9781505456400 / Angielski / Miękka / 2014 / 116 str.

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency

Opis

In FY 2015, the National Environmental Information Exchange Network (Exchange Network, Network or EN) Grant Program is focusing on Phase 2 of the EN and the incorporation of certain aspects of the E-Enterprise for the Environment (E-Enterprise or EE) initiative into the EN program. The general goals of the EE initiative align with the goals of the EN program, and, for this reason, the incorporation of certain EE initiatives into the EN program will further the goals of Phase 2. The Exchange Network is a partnership that supports better decision-making through improved access to environmental information. EPA and agencies from states, tribes, and territories are collaboratively building the Network to improve the nation's ability to understand, protect, and preserve human health and the environment. The aspects of the EE initiative that we are incorporating into the EN program will improve environmental outcomes and dramatically enhance service to the regulated community and the public by maximizing the use of advanced monitoring and information technologies, optimizing operations, and increasing transparency. In addition to supporting similar goals, the EN and EE also affect similar stakeholders. EE began as joint U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)/state effort, and the EE leadership is reaching out to Indian Tribes to integrate them into this initiative. While we believe the EE initiative activities that we are incorporating into the EN program are important, we maintain that it is also appropriate to continue to devote the significant majority of EN funds to continue to support the Phase 2 (and Phase 1) goals developed over the previous years (e.g., the implementation of new priority flows and the development of Web services/APIs and access tools and applications). For this reason, we are setting aside a portion of the EN funds for the new EE related activities. Eligible applicants (page 25) may apply for, and potentially be awarded two grants: one for traditional Phase 2 (or Phase 1) activities and one for the EE activities that are being incorporated into the EN program. We are phasing in the new EE related activities because we still have work to complete under Phase 2 of the EN program, and because we want to evaluate the effectiveness of the EE related activities prior to committing a larger portion of the limited resources available for the EN program. Applicants may apply for grants under one category or both, but they must submit separate applications for each grant for which they apply. The Agency will evaluate, score, and rank proposals under each category separately, and it will develop separate ranking lists for each category of EN grants. An award for an EE related grant will not exclude an applicant from receiving a traditional Phase 2 (or Phase 1) award for an EN grant and vice versa. Exchange Network partners use Web services and standard data formats to electronically report, share, and integrate both regulatory and non-regulatory environmental information. Web services and machine-readable data formats allow for automated machine-to-machine communication over the Internet. EN partners can use those services to automate reporting requirements; integrate data sets for analysis, power mobile and desktop applications; support more efficient business processes; and be consistent with EPA's Open Data Policy.