EPA's Environmental Information Symposium 2007 Agenda

Registration and Continental Breakfast

Exhibits Open Visit EPA and industry exhibits to learn even more!  Explore the Cyber Cafe.  Visit the Mash-Up Camp to discover more possibilities.  Continue a conversation.  Begin a new collaboration.

Training Session 1: Disaster Recovery Planning
 
Presenter:
Daniele Albergottie, EPA/OEI

Training Session 2:  Developing To EPA’s Architecture: Leveraging the Enterprise Tools

Presenter:
John Sullivan, EPA/OEI
Phil Magrogan, Lockheed Martin

Training Session 15:
Section 508 Basics for Providing Access

Presenter:
Amanda Babcock, EPA/OEI

Training Session 4: Information Resources Management  (IRM)
Jump Start Program, National Defense University
 
Presenter: John Christian, John Saunders, and Geoffrey W. Seaver, National Defense University

Training Session 12:
What is the Enterprise Customer Service Solution
(ECSS)?

Presenters:
Tom Maloney, EPA/OEI
Samuel Boltik, ASRC
ECSS Rep.

Training Session 5:
EPA Portal Oracle Collaboration Suite (OCS) Training

Presenters:
Terry Grady, EPA/OEI
David Matta, SRA
Richard Pries, SRA

Training Session 6:
The Promises and Pitfalls of Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)

Presenters:
Connie Dwyer, EPA/OEI
Richard Reba, CSC

Training Session 7:
Geo-enabling EPA (for Dummies) – Leveraging EPA’s Enterprise GIS Data,
Tools and Services to Affect Our Workplace, Decision-making and Service to  Citizens

Presenters:
Ana Greene, EPA/OEI
Jerry Johnston, EPA/OEI
Matt Leopard, EPA/OEI
Tom Scheitlin, EPA/OEI
Dalroy Ward, EPA/OEI
Catherine Harness, CSC
Torrin Hultgren, CSC

Training Session 13:
IT Contingency Plan

Presenter:
Marian Cody, EPA/OEI

Training Session 8: Improving Requirements Development & Management

Presenters:
Mike Cullen, EPA/OEI
Susan Kearns – Lockheed Martin

Training Session 9:  Exchange Network Executive Seminar (by invitation)

Training Session 14:
Hosting Your Application at EPA’s National Computer Center (NCC)

Presenter:
John McQuaid, EPA/OEI

Training Session 10: 
Managing Scope and Schedule

Presenter:
Mike Cullen, EPA/OEI
Kim Rappold, Lockheed Martin

Training Session 11:
Global Earth Observation (EPA GEO) Accessing a Knowledgebase Environment

Presenters:
Susan Lundquist, EPA/OEI
Steve Young, EPA/OEI

Lunch (on your own)

Opening Plenary Session

Welcome:
John Askew, Regional Administrator, Region 7, EPA

Opening Remarks
Molly O’Neill, EPA Chief Information Office and Assistant Administrator, Office of Environmental Information, EPA

Keynote Speaker
William Ruckelshaus, Former EPA Administrator

Puget Sound Information Challenge (via video message)

Break

Feature Session 1:  Beginning the Dialogue:  EPA in Today’s Information Age

Moderator:  Mike Flynn, Director, Office of Information Analysis and Access, OEI, EPA 

Panelists: Jamie Conrad, Conrad Law and Policy Counsel; Ken Leiser, St. Louis Post-Dispatch; Shelley Metzenbaum, Environmental Compliance Consortium and University of Maryland; and Erin Robinson, Ph.D. Candidate, Washington University

Visit the Symposium Exhibit Hall:

Visit EPA and industry exhibits to learn even more!  Explore the EPA Cyber Cafe.  Visit the Mash Up Camp to discover more possibilities and visit over 50 other exhibits.

Feature Session 2: Innovations in Green IT

Moderator: Myra Galbreath, Director, Office of Technology Operations and Planning, OEI and EPA Chief Technology Officer

Panelists: Dan Amon, EPA/OARM; Bryant Hilton, Dell, Inc.; Niraj Srivastava, Hewlett Packard; Michael Wilkerson, VMware, Inc.

Track Session 1A:
What Information is the Public Really Asking For?

Moderator:
Rick Martin, EPA/OEI

Panelists:
John Chelen, Hampshire
Research Institute
John Dombrowski, EPA/OEI
Barbara Sheen Todd, Former Former County Commissioner Pinellas County, FL

Track Session 2A:
Web 2.0 in Action

Moderator:
Jeffrey Levy, EPA/OPA

Panelists:
Kyle Carothers, NOAA
Eric Johnson, U.S. Dept. of State
Erin Weinman, Nat’l Museum of the American Indian

Track Session 3A:
Advances in Data Access: Sharing Among the Federal Community

Moderator:
Mary McCaffrey, EPA/OEI

Panelists:
Suzanne Acar, DOI
Thomas Dabolt, EPA/OW
Adrian Gardner, NOAA (invited)
Kevin Kirby, EPA/OEI

Forum Session A:
Communicating Effectively During A Crises From Alternate Workspaces

Panelists:
Michael Hillard, EPA/OEI
Mike MacDougall, EPA/Region 1
Steve Seton,
EPA/Region 7

Forum Session  B:
Getting Started in the EPA Portal: Self-Service

Panelists:
Terry Grady, EPA/OEI
Dave Matta, SRA

Forum Session C:
CDX Lite: Using Service-Oriented Architecture

Presenter:

Exhibits and Networking: Welcome Reception.  Visit EPA and industry exhibits to learn even more!  Explore the Digital Nation Cyber Cafe.  Visit the Mash-Up Camp to discover more possibilities.  Continue a conversation.  Begin a new collaboration.

Registration and Continental Breakfast

Exhibits Open Visit EPA and industry exhibits to learn even more!  Explore the Cyber Cafe.  Visit the Mash-Up Camp to discover more possibilities.  Continue a conversation.  Begin a new collaboration.

Track Session 1B:
Breaking Down Stovepipes: The Toxics Release Inentory (TRI) Experience

Moderator:
Larry Reisman, EPA/OEI

Panelists:
Edward Cottrill, EPA/OW
Pat Garvey, EPA/OEI
Steve Wurtz, EPA/Region 7

Track Session 2B:
Getting the Data Right – Future Directives in Quality

Presenters:
Reggie Cheatham,  OEI/QS
Ron Shafer, OEI/QS

Track Session 3B:
Technology Advances for Information Delivery: Web 2.0 / Wiki

Moderator:
Beth Jackson, EPA/OEI

Panelists:
Rudolf Husar, Washington Univ.
Eric Johnson, U.S. Dept. of State
Erin Weinman, Nat’l Museum of the American Indian
Becky Wolf, CDC

Forum Session D :
Architecting the Land Between HQs and Regions

Panelists:
Lisa Jenkins, EPA/OSWER
John Sullivan, EPA/OEI
Wendy Bartel, EPA/Region 3

Forum  Session E :
Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS) Portal:  Data Entry Burden Reduction Using Enterprise Architecture

Presenter:
Michael Plastino, EPA/OW

Break

Puget Sound Information Challenge
Check-in with Molly O’Neill and Linda Travers, followed by:

Feature Session 3: Promoting Access, Protecting Privacy
A facilitated point/counterpoint discussion will provide attendees with an understanding of the tensions and tradeoffs between expanded electronic access to information and threats to electronic privacy.

Moderator:  Mark Luttner, Director, Office of Information Collection, EPA/OEI

Panelists:  Kim Nelson, Microsoft Corporation; Lee Tien, Senior Staff Attorney, Electronic Frontier Foundation

Lunch (on your own)

Track Session 1C:
The Right Information for Managers

Moderator:
Eric Hubbell, EPA/OEI

Panelists:
Will Anderson, EPA/OCFO
Robert Buettner
Shelley Thawley, EPA/OPPTS

Track Session 2C:
Building Blocks for Information Access: Information Architecture, Content Management and Search

Moderator:
Jonda Byrd, EPA/OEI

Panelists:
Jarrod Gingras, CMSWatch
Lisa Welchman, Welchman Consulting

Track Session 3C:
Respecting Tribal Data

Moderator:
 Doreen Sterling, EPA/OEI

Panelists:
Ella Mulford, EPA/OSWER
Dean Suagee, Hobbs, Straus, Dean &Walker, LLP
Jack Trope, Assoc. of       American Indian Affairs

Forum Session F:
Harnessing Public Participation via Regulations.gov

Panelists:
Asfara Moghis, EPA/OEI
Kristin Tensuan, EPA/OEI

Forum Session H:
Perspectives on Decentralized vs Centralized Systems: Tales From the Superfund Document Management System (SDMS) Central Migrations Saga

Panelist:
Steve Wyman, EPA/OSWER

Forum Session G:
Bringing Endangered Species and Critical Habitat Data to EPA

Panelists:
Ana Greene, EPA/OEI
Mary Klein, NatureServe
Matt Leopard, EPA/OEI

Forum Session I:
Using Portal Tools: Web Conferencing, Instant Messenger, Workspaces

Panelists:
Terry Grady, EPA/OEI

Feature Session 4: Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants

Speaker: Peter Ronayne, Dean, Federal Executive Institute
An insightful perspective on how different generations view work and use information technology. What does that mean for environmental protection?

Followed by:
Puget Sound Information Challenge Check-in with Molly O’Neill and Linda Travers

Break

Track Session 1D:
Librarians Without Borders: The Information You Need Anytime, Anywhere

Moderator:
 Roberta Shaffer, FLICC/FEDLINK

Panelists:
Deborah Balsamo, EPA/OEI
Victor Cid, NIH/NLM
Frederick Stoss, SUNY of Buffalo

Track Session 2D:
Making the Connection Between Health and the Environment

Moderator:
 William Sonntag, EPA/OEI

Panelists:
Susan Fuchs , American Lung Association
Mike Petruska , EPA/OEI
Gwen Yoshimura, EPA/Region 7

Track Session 3D:
Best Practices in Data Access by States

Panelists:
Dennis Burling, NE
Nancy Imler, Co-Chair NOB-PA
Lawrence Thornton, NJ
Mitch West, Exchange Network

Forum Session J :
Fostering the Right Connections: Service Oriented Networks of Sensors, Data, Tools and Organizations

Moderator:
Dick Wertz, Foundation for Earth Science

Panelists:
Stefan Falke, Washington University & NGC
Rudolf Husar, Washington University
Tim Pasierb, Northrop Grumman Corporation

Forum Session K :
Leveraging Emerging Gateways for Sharing Geospatial Data with the World

Moderators:
Matt Leopard, EPA/OEI
Harvey Simon, EPA/Region 2

Panelists:
Learon Dalby, Arkansas Geographic Information Office
Rob Dollison, USGS
Michelle Torreano, EPA/OEI

Exhibits:  
Visit EPA and industry exhibits to learn even more!  Explore the Digital Nation Cyber Café.  Visit the Mash Up Camp to discover more possibilities.  Continue a conversation.  Begin a new collaboration

8:00 am – 9:00 am

Continental Breakfast

9:00am – 10:00am

Track Session 1E:
Using Information to Change Attitudes and Protect Human Health

Moderator:
Art Koines, EPA/OEI

Panelists:
Richard (Chet) Wayland, EPA/OAR
Jim Pendergast, EPA/OW

Track Session 2E:
The Future for Community Collaboration on the Web

Introduction by:
Linda Travers, Deputy Assistant Administrator, EPA’s Office of Environmental Information

Panelists:
Terry Grady, EPA/OEI
Jacques Kapuscinski, EPA/ORD
Michael Plastino, EPA/OW

Track Session 3E:
 Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate: Hot Topics and Cool Data

Moderator:
Steve Young, EPA/OEI

Panelists:
Dr. Stefan Falke, Washington University
Lawrence Friedl, NASA (invited)
Dr. Rudolf Husar, Washington University
Pat Dolwick , EPA/OAR (invited)

10:00am – 10:30am

Break

10:30am – 11:30am

Feature Session 5: The Importance of Place in Accessing Environmental Information
Jerry Johnston, Geospatial Information Officer/OEI; Harvey Simon, EPA/Region 2, Lawrence Thornton, New Jersey

11:30am – 12:00pm

Closing Session – Report Out and Puget Sound Information Challenge Wrap-Up
Molly O”Neill, Chief Information Officer, Assistant Administrator and Linda Travers, Deputy Assistant Administrator

Digital Nation Cyber Café

Through demonstrations and hands on interactive technology, this space will encourage participants to explore the various means of information access, from within and external to the Agency.  

The workplace is becoming more virtual, and there are opportunities for both digital natives and digital immigrants to find comfortable tools to access the virtual workplace.  Two rooms will be converted to cybercafés, one featuring internal information access tools, and one featuring tools for public access.  Each room will feature a range of tools to fit native and immigrant comfort levels.  Participants who spend time in the cybercafé environment will be more equipped to embrace emerging technologies with an understanding of the many methods and tools available now and in the future.  They will have the opportunity to see and learn about emerging green technologies and how they fit into the virtual workplace.

The exhibit will be open during session hours on Wednesday and Thursday.

Mash Up Camp

The Web has changed everything.   Increasingly, Web applications, referred to as “mash ups” are being constructed on the fly that combine data and or functionality from more than one source. A typical example is the use of cartographic data from Google Maps to add location information to real-estate data from craigslist thereby creating a new and distinct Web service that was not originally envisaged by either source.

Visit the Mash Up camp to see how to create rapid prototype Web applications from EPA’s own data and others.  Imagine having a picture of the site you are working on, with the ability to pull in the technical reports, emissions trends, and satellite data you need to inform your decision.  You do not need to be a computer wizard to do this.  Join us in Mash Up camp to learn more!

1

Disaster Recovery Planning
This course will provide managers and IT system owners with an understanding of what disaster recovery is and how it fits into the larger contingency planning context.  Learn what goes into a disaster recovery plan, how to obtain disaster recovery services, and how to review roles and responsibilities.  This training session qualifies as role-based training for purpose of information security training requirements.  Learn:

• Whether your application, IT system, or service needs a disaster recovery plan
• What questions system managers and process owners should be thinking about to help develop plans for their specific systems
• How to analyze the impact on your business if your IT system goes down
• How to identify the roles and responsibility of individuals involved in the plan
• How to identify some tools that can be used to develop a disaster recovery plan, and
• Where additional information can be located for further guidance or assistance.

2

 Developing To EPA’s Architecture: Leveraging the  Enterprise Tools
This course will provide EPA managers with practical strategies for integrating the EPA’s Reusable Application Platforms as part of a Solution Architecture: maximize, reuse and leverage.  After completing this course, participants should be able to: list the major reusable platforms, provide an overview of platform capabilities and services, and understand what each access platform is best suited to support in a solution architecture.  Participants will learn the answers to questions such as:

• What are the EPA Standard Application Platforms?
• What are the costs associated with using the EPA Standard Application Platforms?
• What is the process for getting information about the platforms to those who need it?
• What is the business case value of each platform?

4

Information Resources Management  (IRM) Jump Start Program, National Defense Universisty
OEI is launching a week-long course on IRM for IT professionals at EPA.  The course will be taught at the National Defense University (NDU) in Washington, DC.  This short version of the NDU course is designed to provide a brief overview of Clinger-Cohen Act (CCA) core competencies.  It will provide EPA managers and staff with the basis for determining whether to enroll in the week-long course.

5

EPA Portal Oracle Collaboration Suite (OCS) Training
This interactive course will provide an understanding of the collaboration features available through the EPA Portal.  The course will include a demonstration of the EPA Portal OCS and will highlight how to create workspaces, share files, create discussion threads, and set up a Web conference. 

6

The Promises and Pitfalls of Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)
You have probably heard people say “SOA,” but what does that really mean?  Learn about Service Oriented Architecture with real world examples and question and answer breaks after a review of each key concept. Your questions will be answered:

• What benefits can SOA really deliver?
• How can I use SOA to help me with my agenda?
• Is it hard to get going with SOA? 
• Is there more to SOA than just technology?
• How expensive is SOA? 
• What do I need to watch out for when I implement SOA?

7

Geo-enabling EPA (for Dummies) – Leveraging EPA’s Enterprise GIS Data,
Tools and Services to Affect Our Workplace, Decision-making and Service to  Citizens
Learn about the range of data, tools, and services available at EPA for EPA employees. This course is targeted toward staff and managers who are not specialists in GIS but want to analyze environmental problems by “place” through leveraging Google Earth® or Mapquest.  Three training modules will be presented:

• Entering the GIS Gold Mine – OEI maintains millions of dollars in services, applications and expertise that are at your disposal!  This review of OEI enterprise services (applications, software, data, training, consultation) and points of contact will include presentations from OEI’s senior GIS leadership.
• Powering-Up Decision-Making with Data Visualization – Using Microsoft Virtual Earth®, Google, and ESRI capabilities to enhance our business processes.  Learn how to post your data to Google, enhance your Web site with Microsoft Virtual Earth® and power-up your analysis with ESRI tools.

8

Improving Requirements Development & Management
IT project managers: learn about what constitutes a requirement and some best practices for gathering and managing requirements throughout the system development lifecycle. After completing this course, participants should be able to define a requirement and explain the different types of requirements; explain the difference between a requirement and a design solution; and describe at least two best practices for managing requirement changes and how they intend to implement those practices in their own projects.

9

Exchange Network Executive Seminar (invitation only)
This orientation session is for the new members of the EPA/State Environmental Network Leadership Council and the Network Operations Board. (invitation only)

10

Managing Scope and Schedule
This course will provide managers with practical tools for managing the scope and schedule of their projects throughout the application lifecycle. After completing this course, participants should be able to identify major sources of risk and how to mitigate those risks; explain the importance of managing requirements throughout the development lifecycle; explain at least one schedule or scope problem they currently face and how they will apply a best practice to manage the problem; and demonstrate their ability to manage expectations through communication techniques presented in the class.

11

Global Earth Observation (EPA GEO) Accessing a Knowledge Base Environment
Learn about the value of a knowledge management environment for EPA GEO and the current EPA GEO activities for building and accessing a knowledgebase environment.  This course will help you establish relationships with other EPA organizations that want to partner on knowledge management tools to eliminate organizational stovepipes. It will also promote knowledge sharing for Earth Observations to assist users in getting at the right data.  Learn:

• How knowledge is more than just Earth Observation datasets
• What knowledge management means to EPA GEO
• What knowledge will be shared
• Why knowledge management is important to EPA GEO and Earth Observations
• What the knowledgebase is that EPA GEO is building.

12

What is Enterprise Customer Service (ECSS)?
Come learn how implementing ECSS in your office at EPA will enable you to be more responsive to inquiries from the public at a reduced cost.  ECSS has enabled participating EPA program offices to improve the citizen experience by creating Web sites that answers visitors’ questions automatically 80 percent of the time and have reduced e-mail volumes by more than 70 percent.  Implementation of ECSS also gives the participating program offices deep insight into the issues of greatest concern to citizens, businesses, non-profit organizations, and other government agencies. 

13

IT Contingency Planning
This course will provide managers and IT system owners with an understanding of the criticality of good Continuity of Support Planning/IT Contingency Planning and how such planning fits within the larger context of an organization’s risk management and emergency preparedness environment.  This training will highlight contingency planning principles, processes and Federal requirements.  EPA’s direct involvement with 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina has served to reinforce the value of good business continuity planning and emergency preparedness.  This course qualifies as role-based training for purpose of EPA’s information security training requirements.

14

Hosting Your Application at EPA’s National Computer Center (NCC)
This course will inform customers and potential customers about NCC Application Hosting: describe the technologies employed, explain how to deploy an application, and provide information on steps to take to ensure a smooth deployment.  Information will be provided on who to contact at the National Computer Center regarding hosting requirements.

15

Section 508 Basics for Providing Access
Learn the rationale and basic requirements of Section 508, the federal law about providing accessible electronic and information technology (EIT) to persons with disabilities.  Engage in an Interactive question and answer session on EIT and what falls (or doesn’t fall) under the Section 508 provisions.  Participants will learn the 508 process at EPA, receive a factsheet on 508 resources, be able to identify where to go to get information about Section 508 and EPA, and be able to identify who can help them with their 508 questions.

Feature Session 1: Beginning the Dialogue:  EPA in Today’s Information Age
Participate in a moderated dialogue designed to: achieve an understanding of the environmental information needs of the Public; clarify the role EPA should play in providing this information in the future; and understand emerging customer needs.  Hear a panel of experts answer questions such as:

• What types of environmental information do you need? (i.e., local, national, site-specific)
• How do you want to receive this information?
• Have you looked for this information from EPA?
• If yes, how do you currently get information from EPA?  (e.g., Web, paper, conferences)
• Did we meet your needs?
• If not, what do we need to improve?

2

Feature Session 2: Innovation in Green IT
Hear a panel examine the challenges facing Federal agencies and businesses alike in attaining sustainability regarding energy needs and environmental challenges.  What does going Green with Information Technology mean?  What is the Green IT Lifecycle?  Why do government CIOs need to know about Green IT?

3

Feature Session 3: Promoting Access, Protecting Privacy
A facilitated point-counterpoint debate/discussion will provide attendees with an understanding of the tensions and tradeoffs between expanded electronic access to information and threats to electronic privacy.

4

Feature Session 4: Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants
Peter Ronayne, Dean of the Federal Executive Institute
An insightful perspective on how different generations view work and use information technology.  What does that means for environmental protection?

5

Feature Session 5: The Importance of Place in Accessing Environmental Information
A panel discussion that will highlight current trends in the use of geospatial data and tools in the enterprise, and how these can be used to present EPA data to our partners and the public.  The panel will evaluate our current ability in providing geospatial data and services quickly, efficiently and effectively during an incident of national significance.

What Information is the Public Really Asking For?
Learn about OEI’s current efforts to identify the customers for environmental information and what are they looking for from EPA.  Participate in identifying what “customers of tomorrow” are looking for in environmental information.  Answers to the following questions will be discussed:

• What effort does EPA have underway for identifying “What Information is the Public Really Asking For?”
• What are industry trends in identifying customer information needs?
• How can EPA best provide information to the public to meet their needs?
• Who and how should EPA reach out to answer this question?
• Is EPA going to change the way it delivers or provides information to the public?

2A

Web 2.0 in Action
Explore the challenges facing information providers in the new world of social networking and learn about early solutions to these challenges.  Learn how to ensure that the information provided through social networking is credible.  Explore ways we can ensure the information accessed meets user needs.  Learn what the future looks like in the information access world and examine some ways we can overcome barriers within the organization to implement social networking in the workplace.

3A

Advances in Data Access: Sharing Among the Federal Community
The Federal government spends more than 2.3 billion dollars on IT systems with environmental information. The EPA investment constitutes less that 14% of that amount. This session will address aligning data sharing approaches with federal agencies which are environmental information trading partners. This session will target joint mission activities that could be launched under Federal Government’s Federal Enterprise Architecture Environmental Line of Business. The audience will learn what information other Agencies maintain in terms of national data assets. The session will focus on how existing business drivers can be leveraged to share data.

Forum
A

Communicating Effectively During A Crises From Alternate Workspaces
Participants will learn about innovative technologies to help communication during a crisis; lessons learned for telework and communicating effectively; and how to utilize existing systems and technologies to be better prepared during a crisis.

Forum
B

Getting Started in the EPA Portal: Self-Service
This session highlights the self-service features in the EPA Portal, including collaboration, information discovery, and sharing of knowledge.  The user-centric presentation highlights how you can access the EPA Portal today and use it to meet your business needs. Learn how to set started and create a community for your own organization.

Forum C

CDX Lite: Using Service-Oriented Architecture
Learn about an efficient new way to conduct data submissions to EPA via the Web.  Built in a service-oriented architecture, CDX Lite provides EPA program offices the ability to construct basic data and file reporting processes that meet their business needs at a fraction of the time and cost of building custom data flows. Discover the benefits of using CDX-Lite and how to take advantage of these tools and capabilities.  Understand how CDX-Lite can meet regulatory requirements for electronic reporting.

1B

Breaking Down Stovepipes: The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Experience
In this session, learn how facility data from the TRI Program and other EPA programs can be compared to enhance data quality, data integration, and compliance/enforcement efforts.  Explore opportunities for further cross-referencing with other EPA programs or by state agencies.  Participants will learn the answers to questions such as:

• What insights/lessons have been learned so far from cross-referencing TRI data against the Agency’s media-specific permit data?
• What data integration benefits/lessons have we learned from cross-referencing so far?
• What additional cross-referencing analyses should be undertaken to compare TRI data against the Agency’s media specific data, other Agency data, data not managed by the Agency?
• What other cross-referencing projects (e.g., by other EPA programs, states) are being pursued?
• What are the barriers to cross-referencing – “breaking down stovepipes?”

2B

Getting the Data Right: Future Directives in Quality
It is one thing to access data, it’s quite another to know how good that data really is.  This session is about what data providers and consumers need to know and do to ensure that the information used to make environmental decision is the best it can be.

3B

Technology Advances for Information Delivery:  Web 2.0/Wikis
This session will showcase how wikis and other Web 2.0 technologies are being used by a variety of organizations, to include: meeting the internal needs of other federal agencies, and educational/cultural institutions. See demonstrations of these technologies; learn about the rationale for their development within the organization; and discuss present and future use.  A panel will explore key questions, such as:

• What are the lessons learned in developing/implementing this technology within your organization?
• Was there resistance to utilizing these newer technologies within your organization?  If so, what was the greatest obstacle you faced?
• How has the implementation improved communication and/or information flow in your organization?

Forum
D

HQ and Regions Architecture Collaboration
Join a discussion about how to approach linking functional segments in the EPA Architecture (like Land Quality Management) to the regional activities that support those segments.  Participants will be sharing some preliminary work being done with Region 3 on current problem areas and how architecture might be applied to define solutions to those problems.  Input from other regions and program offices will be sought on whether they have similar concerns and ideas.

Forum E

Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS) Portal: Data Entry Burden Reduction Using Enterprise Architecture
This session will highlight uses of the key EPA Enterprise Architecture components - Portal Tools & Web services, Identity & Access Management, Electronic Document Management System, EnviroFacts & ICIS, Impaired Waters Services, WATERS Lite Viewer Services and more! – to decrease Local and State data entry burden and maximize EPA efficiency in conducting the Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS) 2008.

1C

The Right Information for Managers
This session will give participants an understanding of the performance and programmatic information needs of the Agency.  Learn about ways to provide better access to performance and programmatic data via online tools and/or dashboards. EPA is beginning an effort to streamline, unite, and enhance its enterprise performance management information.  Efforts to display programmatic data and information in a useful format are happening across the Agency.  This session will focus on the performance and programmatic management needs of the Agency from the perspective of panelists from regional, program and support offices.  In addition to discussing their needs, the panelists will relate how performance measurement can be or has been addressed via online tools that provide access to programmatic and performance data in a visually intuitive format.

2C

Building Blocks of Information Access: Information Architecture, Content Management, and Search.
In this session, participants will achieve an understanding of the key components necessary for making environmental information more readily discoverable and accessible.  Gain an understanding of new Web site customers and their expectations for quickly accessing relevant and timely information.  Some key questions to explore include:

• What is “Information Architecture,” and why should I care?
• How does this approach to content management improve the user experience?
• What changes to my business processes are likely to occur?
• What is enterprise search and what are the latest search trends?

3C

Respecting Tribal Data
This session will promote an understanding of the information that is sensitive to Tribes and why.  Participants will discuss ways to provide better access to data that Tribes need for environmental decision making.  Key questions will be addressed:

• What data doTtribes consider sensitive/private?
• Why is this data sensitive?
• How are Tribes protecting this data?
• How are environmental partners protecting this data?
• How do we balance environmental protection with the safeguarding of sensitive tribal data?
• How do we ensure Tribes have access to the best data available for environmental decision making?
• What data gaps exist in supporting tribal decision making?

Forum
F

Harnessing Public Participation via Regulations.gov
Learn about the evolution of Regulations.gov and how the public is using this interactive Web site.  Share lessons learned in designing and deploying a federal-wide government Web site for public interaction – working in mass collaboration to set priorities on design and functionality and gather feedback for analysis.  Future trends in public use on the Internet (e.g., Web 2.0) of personalization, interactivity, and peer-to-peer will be discussed.

Forum
G

Bringing Endangered Species and Critical Habitat Data to EPA
Learn about access to NatureServe and other data sources and how these capabilities enhance environmental protection.

Forum
H

Perspectives on decentralized vs centralized systems: Tales from the SDMS central migrations saga
Share lessons learned (technical and sociological) from the two year process of migrating the Superfund Document Management System (SDMS) from a completely decentralized region-only system to a centrally administered national system. 

Forum
I

Using Portal Tools: Web Conferencing, Instant Messager, Workspaces
This presentation will highlight the collaboration features available through the EPA Portal:  how to create workspaces, share files, create discussion threads, and set up a Web conference.

1D

Librarians Without Borders: The Information You Need Anytime, Anywyere
Hear an overview of the role librarians play as direct providers and/or intermediaries in facilitating access to environmental information and data for each other and for decision-makers of all types (e.g. citizens, researchers, etc.).  This session will emphasize that access and availability of information should not be impacted by either time or geography.  Learn from a panel of experts:

• How to support, through information delivery, access to information for all decision-making (e.g. emergency responders, poison control centers)
• How to identify the correct source of information (person or resource)
• How to develop relationships within the information provider community

2D

Making the Connection Between Health and the Environment
In this interactive discussion, the panel and audience will explore the similarities and differences in the information needs and information policy issues faced by government agencies and local communities in trying to address emerging environmental contaminants.  Participants will also learn about the implications for how federal agencies, states, and communities can collaborate to overcome key information needs and policy barriers.

3D

Best Practices in Data Access by States
Learn how the Exchange Network is being  used to support specific business needs:

• How Nebraska and its state partners of Region 7 in the Heartland Emergency Response Exchange (HERE) Project use the Exchange Network to proactively share critical environmental information in support of emergency response operations.
• How the state environmental agencies of New Jersey, New York, and Delaware in collaboration with the  EPA Air Program developed the Air Quality Data Exchange (AQDE) using the technology of the Exchange Network and how  these partners developed a common data exchange mechanism that automates access to ambient air monitoring data and provides for efficient reporting to both EPA air data systems – AQS and AirNow.
• See a demonstration of the Exchange Network Browser and EN Discovery Service (ENDS) that demonstrates the power of the Exchange Network to solve business problems by combining Web services with geospatial tools and data

Forum
J

Fostering the Right Connections: Service Oriented Networks of Sensors, Data, Tools and Organizations
Participate in a discussion on the state of the art and science in the use of interoperable Web services for environmental applications.  Topics include:  data and sensor access; analysis and visualization tools; and Web collaboration to foster interoperability among distributed entities and participants.  New technologies and techniques presented will be pivotal for enhancing understanding of environmental conditions, as well as having the ability to track progress and plan for the future.  These are a crucial part of the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS).

Forum
K

Leveraging Emerging Gateways for Sharing Geospatial Data with the World
A panel will provide overviews of various portals: cross-government (Geospatial One-Stop), federal (EPA’s GeoData Gateway), and state (Arkansas’ GeoStor).  What are the sources available for finding geospatial assets?  What type of information is available at these sources?  How are the various portals related? What are the benefits of using and posting geospatial assets to portals?

1E

Using Information to Change Attitudes and Protect Human Health
This session will showcase targeted efforts by Program and Regional Offices across the Agency to inform the public, change public attitudes and promote sound environmental behavior.  Learn about lessons from successful efforts and how they might be used in future public information efforts.  Explore thekinds of environmental information  programs and regions are making available to the public.  Who are their audiences?  What are their goals for providing information access?  Explore how voluntary information access complements regulatory program activities.  See how program and regional sponsors determine whether their information programs are working and what improvements the panelists are planning to make in the future.

2E

The Future for Community Collaboration on the Web
In this session, participants will learn about how the EPA Portal helps communities with common interests collaborate on the Web.  What is the concept of Portal and why is it right for EPA?  How is it being used today and into the future?  How can the EPA Portal affect information access and sharing?  Learn who “Got it Right” by bringing resources to the Portal; how the Portal has affected information access, discovery, and exchange for current users; and how the Portal can be improved to better facilitate collaboration.

3E

Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate: Hot Topics and Cool Data
Learn how earth observation data help us understand how atmospheric chemistry is changing and how climate is forecast to change as a result.  Examine how information technology is advancing our ability to understand important changes in our Earth systems.  Hear the answers to important questions:

• What are some of the key data now available on how atmospheric chemistry and the climate are changing?
• What exciting new capabilities are on the horizon?
• What is new information technology enabling that we couldn’t do before?
• How does it all relate to the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS)?
• Why should decision-makers care?
• Why should the general public care?