EPA's Environmental Information Symposium 2006
"Using Information to Accelerate the Pace of Environmental Protection"

A Geospatial Primer: Module 1: The Basics (PDF) (23pp, 169 K)

This training will provide an introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and other geospatial technology. It will inform attendees on how GIS tools, data, and services are being deployed across the EPA enterprise to support EPA's core business needs.

Tim Richards, OEI
Catherine Harness, CSC
Torrin Hultgren, CSC
Mark Murphy, CSC

Enabling the Mobile Workforce (PDF) (9pp, 95 K)

This session will explain and demonstrate the current IT capabilities available at EPA for the mobile workforce. It will include demonstrations of Network access, voice and email communications, and collaboration tools using OEI's current services and technologies.

Carlos Rivera-Silva, OEI

Geospatial Primer: Module 2: GIS Concepts, Tools and Practices

(double session)

A continuation from 8:00: The second part of the morning will be geared toward EPA's geospatial tools with demonstrations such as NEPAssist, FRS, and the GeoData Gateway.

Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) Strategy Update (PDF) (141 K, 17pp.)

This training session provides the audience with an understanding of SOA and web services basics, as well as service discovery concepts. It provides examples of SOA-based services access and demonstrates SOA function.

Mike Cullen, OEI
Connie Dwyer, OEI
John Sullivan, OEI
Richard Reba, CSC

Reporting and Managing Security Threats: CSIRC (PDF) (39pp, 663 K)

This course will provide an overview of EPA's Computer Security Incident Response Capability (CSIRC) and associated procedures. Attendees will gain an understanding of EPA's operational and incident handling procedures and practices used to protect the enterprise network against known and unknown threats.

John Gibson, OEI
Doug Huston, CSC

1:30 PM

OPENING PLENARY SESSION

Welcome
Moderator: Robin Richardson, Office of Environmental Information (OEI)

Opening Remarks
Stephen L. Johnson, EPA Administrator (recorded)

CIO's Remarks
Linda Travers, Acting Chief Information Officer

Regional Perspective
John Askew, Regional Administrator, EPA Region 7

State Perspective
Leah Ann Lamb, Utah Department of Environmental Quality

2:30 PM

BREAK

3:00 PM

Break-out Sessions

Business Fundamentals: Leveraging EPA's Application Development Infrastructure (PDF) (38pp, 552 K)

Learn how to develop and manage information systems efficiently and effectively using enterprise data and tools. This panel discussion will highlight approaches to systems development and management, including: toolbox capabilities, determining information needs and data sources, constructing systems using existing components, and using available analytical tools.

Andrew Battin, OEI
Sue Gilbertson, OEI
Robin H. Richardson, OEI
Rick Martin, OEI
Robin Gonzalez, OEI
Reggie Cheatham, OEI

Exchange Network Progress and Return on Investment

The Exchange Network (EN) is a partnership among states, tribes, and the U.S. EPA that is revolutionizing the exchange of environmental information. Attendees will hear about the Exchange Network's progress, results from a recent Return on Investment study, and the EN governance targets for 2010. Attendees will get the opportunity to ask questions and talk with partners from the Exchange Network Leadership Council.

Linda Travers, OEI
Tom Lamberson, Nebraska
Mitch West, Oregon (PDF) (18pp, 439 K)
Nancie Imler, Pennsylvania (PDF) (32pp, 991 K)
Jim Siwula, Kentucky (PDF) (36pp, 830 K)

The Role of the Senior Information Official

All Agency Senior Information Officials (SIOs), by invitation only.

This session explores the unique role of the SIO and the CIO in federal information technology and information management. At this session, SIOs will meet with several top federal IT executives and former CIOs in a roundtable format. They will have the opportunity to speak to issues specific to SIOs including IT management and governance.

Myra Galbreath, OEI
Fred Thompson, Council for Excellence in Government

8:00 AM

Continental Breakfast
CIO Breakfast: Geospatial Services in Emergency Response Situations

9:00 AM

Track Sessions

Track 1 - Increasing the Efficiency of Information Flow

Solutions for Our Future: Region 4 Applied Architecture (PDF) (30pp, 2518 K)

Region 4 has partnered with OEI to implement the Agency's Enterprise Architecture at the Regional level. A Region 4 EA Team focused on six priority areas for improving the management of program data, improving systems utilization, and supporting multi-media collaboration within EPA and with State partners. This session will highlight the many benefits across a range of areas, including emergency response, and others.

Cory Berish, Region 4
John Sullivan, OEI

Track 2 - Improving Cross-Media Environmental Knowledge

Measuring Environmental Program Performance: Opportunities and Challenges

This session will give an overview of current initiatives to improve the Planning, Budgeting and Accountability (PBA) process, followed by a short panel discussion. Topics include: Measures Review, Burden Reduction, and Improving EPA's PBA Framework.

Kathy Sedlak O'Brien, OCFO (PDF) (32pp, 97 K)
Mike Flynn, OEI (PDF) (14 pp, 100 KB)
Rick Martin, OEI
Pam Luttner, OCIR
Denice Shaw, ORD
Donna Vizian, Region 2
Doug Fine, Massachusetts
Rita Smith, OCFO

Track 3 - Informing the Public

Next Generation Public Access

This session will provide an opportunity to learn about the framework used by EPA to manage its Web site and the innovative projects underway to improve the public experience in accessing epa.gov. Projects include the Enterprise Customer Service Solution (ECSS), digitization of environmental publications, and improving discovery of information through topical reorganization.

Jonda Byrd, OEI (PDF) (2pp, 25 KB)
Serenety Hanley, OA (PDF) (5pp, 67 KB)
Bill Henderson, OARM (PDF) (8pp, 119 KB)
Jeff Tumarkin, OEI (PDF) (18 pp, 202 KB)

Track 4 - Building a Stronger EPA

EPA Quality Policy (PDF) (16pp, 61 KB)

A status update from the Agency Quality Policy Workgroup on the Quality Policy currently under development. The importance of developing metrics to measure performance will be explored.

Reggie Cheatham, OEI
Ron Shafer, OEI

10:30 AM

Track Sessions (Continued)

Track 1 - Increasing the Efficiency of Information Flow

Enterprise Content Management - Present and Future (PDF) (33pp, 1485 KB)

This session will present the status of the ECMS email records roll-out, discuss lessons learned from the OPPTS experience with the electronic Inventory Update Rule (eIUR), and preview the FY08 Records Roll-out.

Oscar Morales, OEI
Todd Holderman, OPPTS
John Sullivan, OEI
John Ellis, OEI

Track 2 - Improving Cross-Media Environmental Knowledge

Continued: Measuring Environmental Program Performance: Opportunities and Challenges

This session is a continuation of the topics introduced at the 9:00 am session and will include discussions on the Report on the Environment - Strategic Planning Pilots, and Performance Management Tools (EcoStat). This session will conclude with a moderator-led panel discussion on the relationship between the various Agency initiatives and the Agency planning and accountability processes.

Kathy Sedlak O'Brien, OCFO
Mike Flynn, OEI
Rick Martin, OEI
Pam Luttner, OCIR
Denice Shaw, ORD
Donna Vizian, Region 2
Doug Fine, Massachusetts
Rita Smith, OCFO

Track 3 - Informing the Public

Extreme Makeover: TRI Edition – Leading the Way to Enterprise Integration (PDF) (67pp, 3387 KB)

Presentation on Toxic Release Inventory's (TRI) strategy to modernize its data collection, processing, and dissemination mechanisms in an effort to improve customer service to TRI facilities and State Partners. Speakers will demonstrate how TRI's redesigned process flows align with the Enterprise Architecture SOA, including utilization of the Exchange Network, CDX, Web Applications and Services, the ETL tool, the Data Mart concept, and Business Intelligence tools, showing the benefits to the TRI program through its modernization plan.

Timothy Antisdel, OEI
Ingrid Rosencrantz, OEI
Joshua Woodyard, OEI
Jim Siwula, Kentucky TRI

Track 4 - Building a Stronger EPA

Web-Based Quality
Management Plans

The importance of web-based QMPs for EPA organizations will be discussed. Speakers will explore the flexibility of web-based QMPs in providing for simplified and more easily accessible Quality Management System (QMS) documentation and for expanded quality management tools.

Gary Johnson, OEI
Jeffrey Worthington, OEI

QMP 1 (PDF) (17pp, 200 KB)
QMP 2 (PDF) (14pp, 157 KB)

1:00 PM

PLENARY SESSION

Bridging the Gaps in Government Information Sharing (PDF) (37pp, 609 KB)
State, local and NGO representatives will provide a dialog to explore how information partnerships at all levels of government are being formed to effectively manage changing business processes. They will discuss how we must continually monitor the world around us to identify needs and markets, anticipate disruptions, establish explicit strategic intent, and deliver the capabilities to enable that intent.

Stephen Goranson, Region 5; Eric Sweden, NASCIO; and Dreux Watermolen, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

2:00 PM

Track Sessions (Continued)

Track 1 - Increasing the Efficiency of Information Flow

Administrative Systems Modernization

This session will showcase integrated administrative systems activities, including the Financial System Modernization Project (FSMP), Administrative Data Warehouse (ADW), New Acquisition System, and EPA's Reporting and Business Intelligence Tool (ORBIT).

Rashmi Lal, OCFO (PDF) (15pp, 437 KB)
Rachel Malcolm, OARM (PDF) (9pp, 47 KB)
Gwendolyn Martinez, OCFO (PDF) (11pp, 45 KB)

Track 2 - Improving Cross-Media Environmental Knowledge

Putting the Geospatial Line of Business to Work for EPA

The purpose of this session is to advance the concept of a community of interest in environmental data presenting the business case for establishing a governance structure to identify requirements, build and maintain a national authoritative suite of environmental datasets; highlighting examples of existing models for governing dataset development and considering options; and getting feedback on potential near-term actions, priorities, and opportunities for advancing this effort.

Leslie Armstrong, DOI/USGS (PDF) (17pp, 403 KB)
Larry Sugarbaker, NATURSERVE (PDF) (23pp, 2503 KB)
Tod Dabolt, OW (PDF) (8pp, 590 KB)
Matthew Leopard, OEI (PDF) (2pp, 225 KB)
Dalroy Ward, OEI

Track 3 - Informing the Public

Information Quality Guidelines: Trends, Impacts and Opportunities (PDF) (14pp, 117 KB)

With this presentation, the speakers will give an overview of the EPA's IQG, discuss trends related to the types of challenges received, and highlight new developments, such as the Pre-Dissemination Review Guidelines and upcoming opportunities for continuous improvement.

Monica Jones, OEI
Kimberlie Orr, OEI

Track 4 - Building a Stronger EPA

The Next 5 Years: EPA's IT Vision and the Future of Technology (PDF) (18pp, 523 KB)

This session provides an overview of the Strategic Technology Directions initiative and will focus primarily on the areas of email services and file-and-print services. The business drivers, challenges, key directions, and goals that will influence EPA's information technology future will be addressed. Information will be shared on recommendations for change and next steps.

Michael Hillard, OEI
Jody Zeugner, OEI
Chapman Gleason, OEI
David Updike, OEI
Leonard Chertoff, OEI
John Smith, Region 7
Bob Messina, Region 2
Warren Beer, Region 9
Yvonne Kinney, OIG

3:30 PM

Track Sessions (Continued)

Track 1 - Increasing the Efficiency of Information Flow

Integrated Identity Management (PDF) (28pp, 554 KB)

The purpose of this session is to inform the EPA community of current and future initiatives in the area of Identity Management. EPA's progress toward a single identity for all employees and contractors will be discussed, as well as plans to use the new EPASS badge for single sign-on in the Agency.

Wanda Stokes-Michals, OEI
Maja Lee, OEI

Track 2 - Improving Cross-Media Environmental Knowledge

CDX: The Next Generation (PDF) (25pp, 698 KB)

This session will communicate innovations and changes made to CDX services over the past year and the drivers for making these changes including: new CROMERR requirements, cost of development and operations, and planning for future expansion. The session will provide an open forum for new and existing program participants and other stakeholders to provide suggestions and comments on future improvements.

Chuck Freeman, OEI
Chris Clark, OEI
Greg Mitchell, OEI

Track 3 - Informing the Public

Knowing Globally, Acting Locally: The Future of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) (PDF) (13pp, 1238 KB)

Participants will have an opportunity to discuss their priority needs for environmental observation data. This session will give an overview of GEOSS at the international, US national, and EPA levels, and explain the direction of EPA's Advanced Monitoring Initiative (AMI) efforts. Panelists will explore the connections between GEOSS/AMI and other initiatives such as the Portal and the Exchange Network. The future of the Integrated Earth Observation System (IEOS) that the US will build as its contribution to GEOSS and how IEOS will help environmental decision-making will be explored.

Steve Young, OEI
Edward Washburn, ORD
Stephen Goranson, Region 5
Jacques Kapuscinski, ORD
Joseph Retzer, OEI
Sandra Duque, OEI

Track 4 - Building a Stronger EPA

Tying IT Together for Your Business: Enterprise, Data, Security and Technology (PDF) (21pp, 1101 KB)

The objective of this session is to demonstrate strategies and activities that can be undertaken to comprehensively understand business activities and use this understanding to identify areas where business activities can be streamlined and information better utilized.

John Sullivan, EPA
Lisa Jenkins, OSWER
Todd Holderman, OPPTS
Wendy Blake-Coleman, OEI
Cory Berish, Region 4
Amanda Geldard, OEI

9:00 AM

Track Sessions

Track 1 - Increasing the Efficiency of Information Flow

Separating Fact from Fiction: How the Convergence of Video, Voice and Data Impacts EPA's Wide Area Network (PDF) (31pp, 641 KB)

This interactive session will present the case for bandwidth management across EPA's Wide Area Network using a variety of techniques including network management tools and analysis, data routing techniques, network caching, and consumer awareness. Illustrations of how user behavior and application design drive bandwidth availability, network performance and cost will be provided. Throughout this session demonstrations will show how voice, video, and data convergence technology (streaming video, Internet radio, video conference, and email) need to be diligently managed by EPA to sustain and/or improve Agency-wide WAN performance within budget.

Robin Gonzalez, OEI
Vaughn Noga, CSC
David Updike, OEI
Tim Thorpe, OEI
John Gibson, OEI

Track 2 - Improving Cross-Media Environmental Knowledge

Integrating Science and Information: Analysis on the Fly

This session will describe a number of the emerging scientific issues that will likely benefit from improved use of information management systems and technologies. The discussion will focus on how needs are being defined and how interactions among various organizations improve the overall effort.

Nancy Wentworth, OEI
Joe Williams, ORD (PDF) (28 pp, 3184 KB)
Susan Lundquist, OEI (PDF) (13pp, 403 KB)
Richard Judson, ORD (PDF) (15pp, 286 KB)

Track 3 - Informing the Public

For Improved Access to Environmental Information:
The Future is Now

An opportunity for attendees to learn of efforts to improve access to data and information for the public and for Agency users. New and improved technologies are providing enterprise solutions for meeting Agency information access needs. Several initiatives are a component of these enterprise solutions and will be explored during this session.

David Wolfe, OEI
Julie Kocher, OEI (PDF) (9pp, 61 KB)
Ming Chang, OEI (PDF) (21pp, 1408 KB)
Dave Catlin, OEI (PDF) (8pp, 355 KB)
Pat Garvey, OEI (PDF) (15pp, 220 KB)
Michael Bellot, OSWER

Track 4 - Building a Stronger EPA

Protecting Privacy Information - Next Steps (PDF) (20pp, 307 KB)

This session will focus on what the Agency is doing to identify and protect Agency personally identifiable information (PII). The purpose of this session is to raise participant sensitivity to the importance of safeguarding PII and to inform them about their responsibilities for complying with OMB and Agency privacy-related requirements.

Don Huddleston, OEI
Judy Hutt, OEI
Deborah Williams, OEI

1:00 PM

PANEL DISCUSSION

Future Challenges: CIO's Panel
The rate of technological change continues unabated. What capabilities will the next wave of technology bring? How are State Chief Information Officers and Environmental Non Profits positioning themselves to take advantage of technology? Will it really be possible to connect anyone anytime to the data, tools and people to solve environmental problems? With a multidisciplinary panel of experts, this moderated session will be a conversation about the future and the challenges it presents to those who work in the field of environmental information.
Moderator:Mary McCaffery, EPA

Peter Saundry - National Council of Science and Environment
Eric Sweden - National Association of Chief Information Officers
David Minton - World Wide Consortium for the Global Grid
Mike Bradshaw - Google, Inc.
Boanerges Aleman-Meza - Semantic Web Laboratory, University of Georgia
Gene Leganza - Forrester Public Sector (PDF) (21pp, 529 KB)

CLOSING REMARKS - Linda Travers, Acting Chief Information Officer