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Draft Information Products Bulletin Framework Plan for Comment
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: November 30, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 231)]
[Notices]
[Page 71314-71317]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30no00-50]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6910-2]
Draft Information Products Bulletin Framework Plan for Comment
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Information Products Bulletin (IPB) is a new joint effort
between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and The
Environmental Council of the States (ECOS). The purpose of this
framework plan is to outline the basis and scope for the development of
the IPB. The IPB is proposed to start being published in 2001, and will
be published regularly, both in hard copy and on the World Wide Web. It
will inform stakeholders and the public about upcoming significant
information products being produced by EPA and some of the states. This
will include, in some cases, the identification of opportunities for
stakeholder and public involvement in the development of such products.
DATES: EPA will accept comments on this draft Information Products
Bulletin (IPB) Framework Plan from the date of this notice until
January 2, 2001.
ADDRESSES: In order to be considered, comments must be submitted in
writing (either by mail or via the IPB website) to EPA using the
following address or website address:
Comments can be mailed to: Shelley Fudge, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Information/Office of
Information Analysis and Access, Mail Code: 2843, 1200 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW., Washington, D.C. 20460.
Comment Via the Web: Go to www.epa.gov/ipbpages and click on the
``How Can I Comment'' button on the left, or on ``Comments'' at the
bottom of each page.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about the
Information Products Bulletin (IPB), please contact Shelley Fudge at
(202) 260-8694, Office of Environmental Information, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Mail Code 2843,
Washington, D.C. 20460.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. What is the Information Products Bulletin?
II. Purpose of the Information Products Bulletin (IPB)
III. Background on Creation of the IPB
IV. Criteria for Including Products in the IPB
V. State Products Included in the IPB
VI. Interim Bulletin Website
VII. Stakeholder and Public Involvement Opportunities During the
Development of EPA Significant Information Products
VIII. Stakeholder and Public Involvement Opportunities for State
Significant Information Products
IX. IPB Publication Schedule
I. What Is the Information Products Bulletin?
The Information Products Bulletin (IPB) is a joint effort between
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Environmental
Council of the States (ECOS) to inform stakeholders and the public
about upcoming significant information products being produced by EPA
and states. ECOS is the national nonprofit, nonpartisan association of
state and territorial environmental commissioners.
The Information Products Bulletin will:
Notify interested parties about soon-to-be-released
significant information products produced by EPA and some states.
Provide an opportunity for stakeholders and the public to
comment and/or give us feedback on some of the significant information
products described on the list. The Bulletin will provide information
about opportunities for stakeholder and/or public involvement during
the development of some of the products listed.
Begin publication in 2001 and will be published every six
months.
Be available on the Web, as well as in hard copy for those
who do not have access to the Internet.
A Significant Information Product is:
A product under development or major modification by EPA
which derives from federal, state, local, tribal, and/or other
organizations' data, and a state product that is regional or national
in scope and aggregates data from more than one state. Such products
often
[[Page 71315]]
generate considerable attention when they use data to describe
environmental conditions, trends, potential risks, and/or portray
compliance or performance.
A stakeholder is:
An individual or group who has a vested interest in the
development and use of a significant information product. In many
cases, stakeholders are likely to be affected by the use of such a
product.
II. Purpose of the Information Products Bulletin (IPB)
EPA and the states are committed to ensuring that the significant
information products we produce are accurate and useful, and that we
clearly characterize the data incorporated into these products. The IPB
will provide pre-publication notification of these products, and in
some cases, identify opportunities for stakeholder and public
involvement.
III. Background on Creation of the IPB
Each year, EPA and the states produce information products for the
general public that are derived from federal, state, local, tribal or
other organizations' data. These products may include analyses and/or
draw conclusions about primary data in order to describe environmental
conditions, trends, potential risks, and/or portray environmental
compliance or performance.
The IPB has been initiated as one of several efforts by EPA and the
states to advance the creation and use of data to enhance public health
and environmental protection, inform decision-making, and improve the
public's access to information about environmental conditions and
trends. Informing the public and providing access to sound
environmental information are essential components of a comprehensive
environmental protection program. EPA and the states recognize that
environmental information should be presented in a format that meets
the needs of major stakeholders and the public. It is understood that
the IPB is not intended to be the initial or primary notification
device for informing state co-regulators about significant new
products.
In November 1999, EPA and the Environmental Council of the States
(ECOS) hosted a meeting in Chicago titled the ``EPA/State Stakeholder
Forum on Public Information Policies.'' The meeting brought together
representatives from states, tribes, industry, environmental and public
interest groups. As an outgrowth of discussions that took place at that
meeting, EPA and ECOS agreed to form a joint EPA/State Action Team to
develop an ``Information Products Bulletin,'' that would be published
periodically. Through this initiative, EPA and the states can provide
early notification of ``significant information products'' under
development, and identify opportunities for stakeholder and public
feedback during the development of certain products.
IV. Criteria for Including Products in the IPB
The IPB does not include a description of all EPA or state
products, only those that are considered significant information
products. The following draft criteria have been developed for
determining which products developed by EPA and the states are
``significant information products'' and thus should be included in the
IPB:
Products that analyze and/or compare data from various
agencies and organizations, including industry, as well as various
federal, state, tribal and local agencies;
Significant data collected by, acquired by, or directly
reported to EPA from various agencies and organizations that EPA has
not interpreted or analyzed;
Products that describe or assess environmental conditions,
trends, or risks;
Products that apply to a large segment of the population
or large geographic area;
Models used by the public to perform environmental
analyses based upon data from various agencies and organizations; and
Those annual reports and other products released on a
regular basis that describe environmental conditions, trends, risks,
and/or portray compliance or performance.
Significant Information Products do NOT include:
Action plans.
Announcements.
Annual reports that provide only broad, general
information, program descriptions and/or accomplishments.
Brochures.
Chemical alerts.
Citizen guides.
Compliance guides.
Conference summaries.
Fact sheets.
Journal articles.
Policy statements.
Press releases.
Rulemakings and supporting documents (including guidance,
directives, studies, etc.).
Strategies, strategic plans.
Training materials.
EPA and ECOS are interested in receiving comments on the above
definition and whether its application will ensure the inclusion of
information products of most interest to the public.
V. State Products Included in the IPB
The IPB will include some significant information products produced
by the states and territories. Such products will be regional or
national in scope and will include aggregated data from more than one
state. While states will not provide a description of any individual
state products, EPA may include products about one state, if the
product is a prototype or concerns national issues, or the data reflect
national or regional environmental conditions, risks, and/or trends.
VI. Interim Bulletin Website
The Interim Bulletin is an initial list of upcoming significant
information products that was placed on EPA's website in September
2000, to provide the public pre-publication notification of such
products prior to the release of the first, full IPB in 2001. The
Interim Bulletin is a list only; it does not describe stakeholder or
public involvement opportunities.
The Interim Bulletin:
Notifies interested stakeholders and members of the public
of soon-to-be released information products.
Describes EPA significant information products only; no
state products are included.
Is available only on the Web, not in hard copy. (The full
IPB will be available on the Web and in hard copy.)
VII. Stakeholder and Public Involvement Opportunities During the
Development of EPA Significant Information Products
What is Stakeholder and Public Involvement?
The term public involvement refers to soliciting input and feedback
from members of the public in the development of EPA and state products
and policies. Stakeholder involvement refers to individuals who
represent groups or specific segments of the public with a vested
interest in the product or policy. Stakeholder involvement primarily
includes representatives of an industry sector, community, government
agency, non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
How Will the IPB Impact EPA's and States' Current Stakeholder and
Public Involvement Processes?
The IPB will provide pre-publication notification of significant
information products being developed by the EPA, as well as some
states. The IPB also identifies, where possible, opportunities
[[Page 71316]]
for stakeholders and the public to provide input into the development
of these products. Procedures have already been established for
obtaining stakeholder and public input for many significant information
products. The IPB will not replace or duplicate existing stakeholder or
public involvement processes associated with the development of EPA or
state products. What the IPB does is provide a comprehensive vehicle
for notifying the public of planned significant information products
being developed by EPA, in addition to some state products. It also
identifies stakeholder and public involvement processes that are
currently underway or are planned for certain products.
It should be noted that it may not be practical or useful to
provide an opportunity for stakeholder or public input for some
products on the IPB list. Examples of such products are those produced
on a routine or annual basis, or those that are technical, science-
based documents that undergo a rigorous peer review process.
How Does the Stakeholder and Public Involvement Process Work?
Stakeholders and the public can become involved in the development
of significant information products in different ways, depending upon
the individual product. Different stakeholder and public involvement
methods are used for each significant information product that
incorporates stakeholder/public involvement. Such methods are described
in Table 1 and 2 below. In considering which method(s) to use for any
given product, EPA and states must consider the purpose of producing
the product and the appropriate target audience, as well as available
resources, time frame, and other possible limitations. For example, it
might be more suitable to obtain stakeholder and public input through
face-to-face meetings rather than through electronic communication
mechanisms. In other cases, one or more electronic communication
methods may reach a wider interested audience, and thus be a more
effective means of getting feedback for a particular product. EPA and
the states often use a combination of stakeholder and public
involvement methods.
Table 1 below shows methods that EPA and the states use to present
information on upcoming significant information products to
stakeholders and the public. Table 2 below describes methods that EPA
and many states use to collect comments on a specific product under
development. Many of the methods described in both tables have been
used routinely by EPA and many states for years. Others, particularly
those utilizing electronic communication mechanisms, may not be used
routinely but their use is growing.
Table 1: Stakeholder and Public Involvement Methods that EPA and the
States Use to Collect Input for Significant Information Products--This
May Vary From State to State
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Stakeholder/public
involvement method Description
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A. Public meetings........... Information is presented about the
product before a public gathering, often
with a question and answer session.
B. Forums and workshops...... Face-to-face discussions with
stakeholders that generally allow for
more in-depth discussion than public
meetings.
C. Focus groups.............. Participants discuss (in a face-to-face
format) potential users' likes and
dislikes of the product, and generally
offer suggestions for improvements.
Participants often reflect the audience
that the product targets.
D. Stakeholder meetings...... Detailed discussions (face-to-face and/or
meetings electronically, via telephone
or video) with representatives of
various government agencies and/or
organizations, including industry, trade
associations, environmental
organizations, local elected officials,
community activists, etc. that are
likely to be impacted by the use of the
product.
E. Stakeholder or expert Extended communication (through meetings,
consultation. phone conversations, email, Fax or U.S.
mail) with representatives of various
government agencies and/or organizations
regarding specific technical issues or
data related to the product. These
representatives are consulted briefly or
for an extended period of time as
subject experts who can provide
essential input.
F. Surveys or questionnaires. Participants provide quantitative and/or
qualitative input about a product from
which key comments can be extrapolated.
G. Federal Register Notices.. Official means to notify the public about
a particular product, including a formal
comment process with a set comment
period. The Federal Register is printed
daily by the U.S. Government.
H. Listservs and other e-mail Electronic mechanisms used for describing
communication methods. a product to various stakeholders and
potential product users.
I. Websites.................. Popular electronic tool that allows a
product to be widely disseminated and
accessible on the Internet. Also can be
used to collect user comments through a
back-end database or e-mail form.
J. Hotlines.................. EPA-supplied phone numbers that allow for
direct answering of caller questions.
K. Public bulletin boards.... Available electronically. Allows
stakeholders and/or the public to submit
questions and comments about a specific
product.
L. Media advertisements...... Advertises information about a specific
product through print and/or electronic
media. May be targeted to a general or
specific audience. Can also be used to
invite public comment on the product.
M. Information fact sheets Highlights key aspects of a specific
and other similar materials. product to be highlighted. Can also be
used to guide users on reviewing/
commenting on the product. Often
distributed at events like public
meetings or displayed in libraries etc.
N. Mailings to various Information about a specific product sent
stakeholders. through U.S. various mail to various
stakeholders and potential product
stakeholders users for information
purposes and feedback.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 71317]]
Table 2: Response Mechanisms Used by EPA and the States--This May Vary
From State to State
A. Verbal comments recorded during a public meeting, forum,
workshop, focus group session or stakeholder meeting.
B. Telephone hotline.
C. Telephone survey/questionnaire.
D. Written comments submitted for a public meeting, forum,
workshop, focus group session or stakeholder meeting.
E. Formal written comments sent to EPA in response to a Federal
Register Notice.
F. Written comments sent to EPA by Fax, e-mail, listserv e-mail,
or through e-mail to an electronic bulletin board.
G. Feedback forms located on websites.
H. Surveys and/or questionnaires sent through U.S. mail, e-mail
or FAX.
The IPB will list the stakeholder and public involvement method(s)
expected to be used for each of the products that provide opportunities
for stakeholder/public involvement. Table 3 below provides a template
that EPA and the states plan to use for each of the significant
information products listed in the IPB.
Table 3: Information that will be Included in the IPB about Products
that Provide an Opportunity for Stakeholder and/or Public Involvement
Title:
[The name of the significant information product. Please note
that titles may be subject to change for some products under
development.]
Description:
[A brief explanation that provides a basic understanding of the
purpose and content of the significant information product.]
Contact:
[Phone number to use to get further information about the
product and/or the stakeholder/public involvement process. When
practical, a specific contact name will be listed and/or an e-mail
address.]
Expected Release Date:
[When the product is expected to be made available to the
public. Please note that such dates are the best estimates available
to date; schedules are subject to change.]
Comment Period:
[The start and end date of the public comment period; OR the
date that the comment period ends if the comment period has already
begun. Please note that the public comment period may differ from
the time frames provided for other types of stakeholder/public
involvement.]
Stakeholder/Public Involvement Methods:
[The method(s) that EPA or the states plans to use to obtain
stakeholder/public input and/or feedback on a specific significant
information product--see examples of Stakeholder and Public
Involvement Methods in Table 1 above.]
How to Access the Draft Product (if available):
[The various electronic and non-electronic ways that
stakeholders and the public can use to access a draft copy and/or
prototype of the product.]
At What Stage in the Development of a Product Can I Get Involved?
The timeframe for the development of each significant information
product varies, and thus the time frame for obtaining public
involvement varies as well. Some software models, for example, require
early and close collaboration with one or more groups of stakeholders
in order to produce an initial version of the product. Other products,
such as technical or scientific reports, often require the use of a
scientific peer review process before any stakeholder and/or public
input may be obtained. In some cases, various methods of stakeholder/
public involvement may be used during different stages of a product's
development. Some input may be sought early in the development of a
product to determine how best to meet the needs of the product's
expected primary users. Then at a later stage in the product's
development, it may be possible to obtain additional feedback on a
draft copy or prototype of the product.
EPA and the states will provide information in the IPB about the
timing of the product's development, along with the timeframe for
submitting public comments. Information regarding specific dates for
public meetings, workshops, forums, etc. may be obtained about specific
products by contacting the number listed under each product
description.
Can I View a Draft Copy or Prototype of Products Under Development?
Where possible, every effort will be made on the IPB website to
include website links to draft copies and/or prototypes of EPA and some
state products under development. Those without access to the Internet
can obtain hard copies of draft products listed in the IPB by
contacting the number listed for obtaining further information. Please
note that there will not always be a draft copy or prototype available
for every product under development.
VIII. Stakeholder and Public Involvement Opportunities for State
Significant Information Products
The states generally use the same type of stakeholder and public
involvement methods as EPA, which are described in Tables 1 and 2.
While states may provide a range of opportunities for stakeholder and
public involvement, not all opportunities listed in Tables 1 and 2 may
be available in all states. As with EPA products, information regarding
specific information and dates for public meetings, workshops, forums,
etc. may be obtained, when available, about specific products through
the contact information listed under appropriate product descriptions.
IX. IPB Publication Schedule
EPA and ECOS struggled with how best to ensure that those without
access to the Internet would be able to access information on the IPB
that is just as up to date as those with access to the Web. We are
interested in receiving comments regarding the recommendation below.
Under the EPA/ECOS recommendation, the IPB would be available on
the Web www.epa.gov/ipbpages and in hard copy format. Both the website
and the hard copy would be fully updated every six months. In between
the six-month publications, the website would be refreshed every three
months with material that cannot wait for the next official update
cycle. This might include incorporating a new product that has a short
development time period, and/or correcting vital information (for
example, a change in comment period dates) relating to an existing
product in the IPB. A contact phone number would be provided for non-
Web users to obtain information about any changes made to the IPB in
between each six-month hard copy publication. When new or updated
information is added to the IPB, it will be highlighted both in hard
copy and on the website.
Dated: November 22, 2000
Elaine G. Stanley,
Director, Office of Information Analysis and Access.
[FR Doc. 00-30544 Filed 11-29-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P