[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 129 (Thursday, July 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35422-35428]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-16808]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7006-6]


Final Information Products Bulletin Framework Plan

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 of the IPB. The IPB 
will be launched in Summer 2001 and will be updated every four months, 
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.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of 
Environmental Information/Office of Information Analysis and Access, 
Mail Code: 2843, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about the 
Information Products Bulletin (IPB), please contact the EPA's Office of 
Information Analysis and Access/Information Access Division at (202) 
260-2846, Fax: 202-401-1315.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. What is the Information Products Bulletin?
II. Changes Since Draft Framework Plan
III. Background on Creation of the IPB
IV. Criteria for Including and Excluding Products
V. State Products
VI. Stakeholder and Public Involvement Opportunities
VII. IPB Archive and Notification of Product Releases
VIII. Legal Status
IX. IPB Publication Schedule
X. Evaluation of IPB
XI. Response to Comments on the Draft IPB Framework Plan

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. 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 Information Products Bulletin will:
     Notify interested parties about significant information 
products under development or major modification by EPA and some 
states.
     Alert stakeholders and the public about opportunities to 
provide input regarding the development of some significant information 
products.
     Be launched in Summer 2001 and will be updated every four 
months.
     Be available on the Web, as well as in hard copy for those 
who do not have access to the Internet.
    The IPB is NOT intended to provide a comprehensive list of the 
information products that EPA or states have already completed and 
released to the public.
    EPA has already developed an interim IPB Web site. It is not as 
detailed as the full IPB will be and does not include information about 
stakeholder or public involvement opportunities for individual 
products. You can view the interim IPB Web site at [www.epa.gov/ipbpages].

II. Changes Since Draft Framework Plan

    A draft IPB Framework Plan was published in the Federal Register on 
November 30, 2000 (65 FR 71314). EPA received comments from five 
organizations and individuals. This final Framework Plan reflects 
changes made in response to the comments submitted, as well as 
editorial changes made to clarify the purpose and scope of the IPB. A 
Response to Comments document is included at the end of this Framework 
Plan.

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 the performance of 
companies, facilities and communities.
    In November 1999, EPA and the Environmental Council of the States 
(ECOS) met with representatives from states, tribes, industry, 
environmental and public interest groups to discuss issues regarding 
public access to information products. The IPB was initiated as an 
outgrowth of discussions that took place at that meeting. It is 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, in formats that meet the 
needs of major stakeholders and the public, are essential components of 
a comprehensive environmental protection program. The IPB is intended 
to notify the public of ``significant information products'' under 
development, and identify opportunities for stakeholder and public 
involvement during the development of certain products. The IPB is not 
intended to be the initial or primary notification device for informing 
state co-regulators about significant new products.

IV. Criteria for Including and Excluding Products

    The IPB includes a description of the upcoming significant 
information products being produced by EPA and some states. Only those 
products currently under development that meet the following definition 
of a ``significant information product'' will be included in the IPB:

    A ``significant information product'' uses national or regional 
data to describe environmental conditions, trends, and/or the 
performance of companies, facilities and communities.

    In addition, the following criteria have been developed for 
determining

[[Page 35423]]

which products developed by EPA and the states will be included in the 
IPB:
     Products that analyze and/or compare data collected by, 
acquired by, or directly reported to EPA or states 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 or states from various agencies and organizations that 
EPA or the states have not interpreted or analyzed;
     Products produced by one or more state environmental 
agencies that are regional or national in scope and aggregate data from 
more than one state;
     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
     Annual reports and other products released on a regular 
basis that use national or regional data to describe environmental 
conditions, trends, and/or the performance of companies, facilities and 
communities.
    The following are examples of the kind of products that meet the 
definition of ``significant information product'' and would be listed 
in the IPB while under development or major modification:
    Sector Facility Indexing Project (SFIP)--a community-right-to-know 
and data integration project that provides environmental performance 
data for facilities within several industry sectors.
    National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment (NATA)--characterizes the 
potential health risks associated with inhalation exposures for 33 
priority toxic air pollutants.
    Water Quality Standards Database (WQSDB)--an integration of 
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and relational database 
technologies employed to deliver information on specific water bodies 
in 20 states (to be expanded to all U.S. states and territories in the 
future).
    The following are the kinds of products that will not be included 
in the IPB, because they either: (1) Do not meet the definition of a 
significant information product, (2) are used for internal purposes 
only, and/or (3) must be released immediately to protect human health:
     Action plans
     Analytic tools used exclusively for internal purposes by 
EPA
     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
     Information describing environmental threats that must be 
released immediately in order to protect public health
     Journal articles
     Policy statements
     Press releases
     Products produced by organizations or agencies other than 
EPA that are funded through EPA grants or cooperative agreements
     Rulemakings and supporting documents (including guidance, 
directives, studies, etc.)
     Strategies, strategic plans
     Training materials
    The criteria and types of products listed above regarding which 
products will and will not be included in the IPB are not exhaustive.

V. State Products

    The IPB will include some significant information products produced 
by the states and territories. Such products will be regional or 
national in scope, including aggregated data from more than one state. 
EPA might 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. Stakeholder and Public Involvement Opportunities

    For purposes of the IPB, ``stakeholders'' refers to individuals who 
represent groups or specific segments of the public with a vested 
interest in the development and use of a significant information 
product. In many cases, stakeholders may be directly affected by the 
use of such a product. ``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 
soliciting input and feedback from stakeholders, as described above. 
Stakeholder involvement primarily includes representatives of industry 
sectors, communities, government agencies and non-governmental 
organizations (NGOs).
    For further information on EPA policies regarding stakeholder and 
public involvement, please refer to the EPA report released in December 
2000, entitled: Engaging the American People: A review of EPA's Public 
Participation Policy and Regulations with Recommendations for Action. 
The report can be viewed at www.epa.gov/stakeholders/policy.htm. EPA is 
also revising its 1981 Public Participation Policy for release in 2001.

How Will the IPB Affect 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 opportunities for stakeholders and the 
public to provide input into the development of some of these products. 
Procedures have already been established for obtaining stakeholder and 
public input for 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 identify existing stakeholder and public 
involvement processes that are currently underway or are planned for 
certain products.
    It should be noted that it may not be useful or appropriate 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. Various 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 
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. 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. 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

[[Page 35424]]

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. 
Electronic communication mechanisms may not be used routinely but their 
use is growing.

Table 1.--Stakeholder and Public Involvement Methods Used by EPA and the
         States for Developing Significant Information Products
                  [These may vary from state to state]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Stakeholder/public involvement method             Description
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Public meeting......................  Presentation by EPA or states
                                          before a public gathering,
                                          often with a question and
                                          answer session.
B. Stakeholder meeting.................  Brief discussion with
                                          representatives of various
                                          government agencies and/or
                                          organizations, including
                                          industry, trade associations,
                                          environmental organizations,
                                          local elected officials,
                                          community activists, etc. with
                                          a vested interest in the
                                          development and use of a
                                          significant information
                                          product.
C. Forum/workshop......................  Discussion with stakeholders
                                          and/or the public that
                                          generally allows for more in-
                                          depth discussion than a public
                                          or stakeholder meeting.
D. Focus group.........................  Discussion with potential users
                                          about the usefulness of one or
                                          more specific products, in
                                          which participants generally
                                          offer suggestions for
                                          improvements.
E. Stakeholder or expert consultation..  Extended communication with
                                          representatives of various
                                          government agencies and/or
                                          organizations as subject
                                          experts, regarding specific
                                          technical issues or data
                                          related to the product.
F. Survey/questionnaire................  Quantitative and/or qualitative
                                          input sought in writing from
                                          the public and/or stakeholders
                                          about a product from which key
                                          comments can be extrapolated.
G. Federal Register notice.............  Official method of notifying
                                          the public about a particular
                                          product, which often includes
                                          a formal comment process.
                                          Printed daily by the U.S.
                                          Government.
H. E-mail/Listserv.....................  E-mail = electronic messages
                                          distributed through a computer
                                          network or the Internet.
                                          Listserv = e-mail-based
                                          mailing list for a group of
                                          people with a common interest.
                                          E-mail and listservs can be
                                          used for distributing
                                          information about products,
                                          and seeking input from
                                          stakeholders and potential
                                          product users.
I. Electronic bulletin board...........  Electronic means of publically
                                          posting questions and comments
                                          submitted by stakeholders and/
                                          or the public.
J. Web site/Web page...................  Web site = groups of Web pages.
                                          Web page = electronic means of
                                          disseminating information
                                          about one or more topics and/
                                          or products globally on the
                                          World Wide Web. Also can be
                                          used to collect user comments.
K. Hotline/Public Information Line.....  Telephone number supplied by
                                          EPA/states that allows for
                                          direct answering of caller
                                          questions.
L. Media advertisement.................  Announcement distributed
                                          through various media outlets
                                          that features a few key points
                                          about the product to spark
                                          interest in it.
M. Information fact sheet and other      Brief description of the
 similar materials.                       product (generally one page),
                                          sometimes inviting public
                                          comments.
N. Mailing to stakeholders.............  Information about the product
                                          targeted to specific
                                          stakeholders and/or potential
                                          product users.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


        Table 2.--Response Mechanisms Used by EPA and the States
                  [These may vary from state to state]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
A. Verbal comment(s) recorded during a public meeting, forum, workshop,
 focus group session or stakeholder meeting.
B. Telephone hotline.
C. Telephone survey/questionnaire.
D. Written comment(s) submitted for a public meeting, forum, workshop,
 focus group session or stakeholder meeting.
E. Formal written comment(s) sent to EPA in response to a Federal
 Register Notice.
F. Written comment(s) sent to EPA by Fax, e-mail, listserv e-mail, or
 through e-mail to an electronic bulletin board.
G. Feedback form located on EPA or state Web site.
H. Survey and/or questionnaire distributed by 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 offering stakeholder and/
or public involvement opportunities. 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.

[[Page 35425]]



Table 3.--Information That Will Be Included in the IPB about Significant
 Information 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 if
                                     applicable; 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      [The method(s) that EPA or the
 Methods.                            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     [The various electronic and non-
 (if available).                     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 time frame for the development of each significant information 
product varies. Thus the time frame for stakeholder and/or 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. In some cases, 
various methods of stakeholder and/or 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, the product developer may obtain 
additional feedback on a draft copy or product prototype.
    As explained above, EPA and the states will provide general 
information in the IPB about the timing of the product's development, 
along with the time frame for submitting public comments. Specific 
information regarding dates for public meetings, workshops, forums, 
etc. may be obtained about individual products by contacting the number 
listed under each product description.

Can I View a Draft Copy or Prototype of Products Under Development?

    Where possible, efforts will be made on the IPB Web site to include 
Web site links to draft copies and/or prototypes of EPA and some state 
products under development. Those without access to the Internet may be 
able to 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 significant information product under development.

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, specific information 
regarding dates for public meetings, workshops, forums, and other 
public/stakeholder involvement activities may be obtained through the 
contact information listed under appropriate product descriptions.

VII. IPB Archive and Notification of Product Releases

    The IPB will develop an archival database that will include 
previous IPB publications. The archive will be searchable by product 
title and date. In addition, each IPB publication will list those 
products that were completed and released since the last update.

VIII. Legal Status

    The inclusion of a particular significant information product in 
the IPB, in and of itself, does not confer any special legal status on 
the product. The IPB is not intended to be used to publish regulatory 
matters requiring publication in the Federal Register.

IX. IPB Publication Schedule

    The IPB will be available on the Web [www.epa.gov/ipbpages] and in 
hard copy format. Both the Web site and the hard copy version will be 
published every four months. Hard copies will be made available through 
U.S. mail and/or Fax-on-Demand (202-651-2084) upon request. Contact 
numbers will be supplied in each IPB publication.

X. Evaluation of IPB

    EPA and ECOS recognize the importance of, and are committed to, 
evaluating the effectiveness of the IPB. Within two years of the 
publication of the first full IPB volume this summer, we will evaluate 
whether the IPB is improving the public's access to information 
products under development. The resulting documentation will be 
publicly available.

XI. Response to Comments on the Draft IPB Framework Plan

    The following Response to Comments section provides EPA's responses 
to the concerns raised by commenters regarding the draft IPB Framework 
Plan, published in the Federal Register on November 30, 2000 (65 FR 
71314). EPA received comments from five organizations and individuals 
on the draft IPB Framework Plan. Copies of the original comments can be 
viewed on the Interim IPB Web site at [www.epa.gov/ipbpages].

1. Support for IPB

    A. One commenter stated that the value of the IPB had already been 
established since it enabled them to identify several information 
products under development on the Interim IPB Web site that they would 
not have known about otherwise. Another comment expressed support for 
the IPB as a new public access tool for accessing, analyzing and using 
information collected by EPA.


[[Page 35426]]


    Response: Thank you for your comment.

2. Products Defined as ``Significant Information Products''

    A. One commenter requested that we add the following to the 
definition of ``significant information product'': ``Products that 
characterize the performance of particular companies, facilities or 
products, or that characterize environmental conditions in particular 
communities.''

    Response: The definition of ``significant information product'' 
has been revised as follows: ``A significant information product 
uses national or regional data to describe environmental conditions, 
trends, and/or the performance of companies, facilities and 
communities.'' While a significant information product may contain 
data about individual facilities, the data are presented on a 
national or regional scale, and the product does not solely 
characterize a particular company, facility or community.

    B. One commenter requested that we include compliance guides in the 
IPB, particularly since the July 1999 Aiming for Excellence report 
announced a new commitment to develop compliance guides for new, 
``economically significant'' regulations, and to seek input from 
States, the regulated community and other stakeholders. The commenter 
further noted that compliance guides should be interpreted broadly to 
include products like the Sector Facility Indexing Project. Two 
commenters requested that we include citizen guides, training materials 
and annual reports in the IPB. They argued that these type of products 
should be evaluated on their individual merits. One comment stated that 
the Risk Screening Environmental Indicators project might be considered 
a citizen guide.


    Response: Neither compliance guides, citizen guides or training 
materials use national or regional data to describe environmental 
conditions, trends, and/or the performance of companies, facilities 
and communities. Thus, none of these information products fall 
within the definition of ``significant information products.'' 
Compliance guides help the regulated community understand and comply 
with their obligations under EPA regulations. Citizen guides are 
generally used to explain EPA's regulations and programs, and 
training materials are generally used to train people about such 
regulations and programs. The Sector Facility Indexing Project meets 
the definition of a significant information product; it is not a 
compliance guide. The Risk Screening Environmental Indicators 
project also meets the definition; it is not a citizen guide.
    The framework plan explains which types of annual reports will 
and will not be listed in the IPB.

    C. Two commenters recommended that we exclude from the definition 
of significant information products, analytic tools used by EPA to 
create analyses and comparisons.

    Response: The IPB includes significant information products that 
are developed for use by the public. It is not intended to include 
products used for internal EPA or state purposes only.

    D. Two commenters recommended that we exclude from the definition 
of significant information products, ``raw'' underlying data, such as 
data collected under TRI or the Biennial Reporting System.

    Response: ``Raw'' data are not expected to be published 
separately in the IPB, and even if they were, they would be subject 
to quality assurance and error correction procedures, but not 
stakeholder or public review. Often, however, raw data are 
incorporated into the kind of information products that will be 
listed in the IPB. Stakeholder and/or public involvement 
opportunities are often provided during the development of these 
products.

    E. Two commenters recommended that we exclude from the definition 
of significant information products, data elements whose specific 
purpose is to identify and locate specific facilities or entities that 
provide environmental reports to EPA and the states.

    Response: Facility identification data and other data elements 
are not expected to be included in the IPB per se. However, the 
products that will be listed in the IPB may contain data elements 
for facility identification. EPA and the States may receive comments 
about these data elements during the product development process.


    F. Two commenters recommended that we exclude from the 
definition of significant information products, information 
describing imminent public health or environmental threats.
    Response: This language has been added to the list of items 
excluded from the IPB.

    G. One commenter stated that the definition of a significant 
information product was unclear, especially with the long list of 
excluded products.

    Response: The definition of ``significant information product'' 
has been revised to make it clearer (see IV. Criteria for Including 
Products in the IPB above). The lists were intended to provide 
useful examples of the types of products that will and will not be 
included in the IPB, and to help provide context for the definition. 
We have thus retained them in the final framework plan. However, the 
lists are not all-inclusive. The major factor that will be used to 
determine whether or not an item is included in the IPB is whether 
or not it meets the definition of ``significant information 
product.''

    H. One commenter requested that we include some examples of 
products that meet the definition of ``significant information 
product.''

    Response: The final framework plan includes several examples of 
the types of products that are considered to be significant 
information products. A longer list of significant information 
products is available for viewing on the Interim IPB Web site at 
www.epa.gov/ipbpages.

3. Delay of Product Completion

    A. Two commenters requested that the framework plan include a 
statement that the IPB will not delay the release of any information 
product. One commenter stated that it might be necessary to release a 
product upon short notice, before it can be listed in the IPB. Another 
commenter asked if EPA would delay a product's release, if for some 
reason the product was not listed in the IPB prior to completion. If 
not, how could the IPB be a ``comprehensive vehicle?''

    Response: The IPB is not expected to delay release of a product 
that has gone through the appropriate product development process. 
Neither is there a legal requirement that products be listed in the 
IPB prior to release. EPA will make case-by-case determinations 
regarding whether to delay releasing a significant information 
product not yet listed in the IPB. Significant information products 
released since the last IPB publication will be listed in the 
following IPB publication (see comment 9. C. below).

4. Stakeholder/Public Involvement

    A. One commenter recommended that EPA clarify that the IPB is not 
intended to replace or amend formal notification and public 
participation procedures. The comment further stated that all questions 
of participation should be dealt with under other EPA initiatives.

    Response: The primary purpose of the IPB is to provide pre-
publication notification of products under development. While some 
information is provided in the IPB about the public and stakeholder 
involvement processes used by EPA and some states, the IPB is not 
intended to replace any of EPA's or the states' formal notification 
and public involvement processes.

    B. One commenter stated that the IPB should include, at minimum, 
the following options related to public participation for all products 
listed in the IPB: (1) A contact for each product and an opportunity 
for stakeholders to submit written or oral comments, and (2) an 
electronic bulletin board so that comments can be viewed by everyone. 
Furthermore, the commenter stated that IPB Web site should be the home 
for electronic comments about individual products, placed in a format 
that encourages stakeholder input and ``cyber-discussions.''

    Response: As stated above, the primary purpose of the IPB is to 
provide pre-publication notification of products under

[[Page 35427]]

development. The IPB is not intended to be the vehicle that 
stakeholders and the public use to provide comments about individual 
products. Contact information will be provided so that readers can 
contact the originating EPA or state program office about a 
particular product. We believe that such an approach provides the 
fastest, most direct and comprehensive way for stakeholders and the 
public to provide input into the development of significant 
information products, and allows the IPB to be an efficient entry 
point for the process.

    C. One commenter asked if a product undergoing modification would 
be subject to stakeholder and/or public involvement procedures. Two 
examples were included: (1) adding a GIS front end to OTIS from OECA, 
and (2) adding a new TRI report to Envirofacts.

    Response: Only products that meet the definition for significant 
modifications will be included in the IPB. Some of the products 
listed in the IPB that are undergoing significant modifications will 
provide opportunities for stakeholder and/or public involvement. 
Data added through the formal regulatory review process, e.g., lead 
reports added to TRI, do not qualify for inclusion in the IPB.

    D. Two commenters requested that we define stakeholder broadly to 
include any member of the general public. One further stated that the 
general public has a vested interest in the outcomes of environmental 
policies and programs.

    Response: The IPB Framework Plan applies to both stakeholders 
and the general public, though these terms are not interchangeable. 
We agree that the general public has a vested interest in the 
outcomes of environmental policies and programs, and we are working 
on a variety of efforts to address public involvement. (See VI 
above.)

    E. One commenter requested that we seek input early in the 
development of a product from both primary and secondary users.

    Response: The primary purpose of the IPB is to provide pre-
publication notification of products under development. Since 
products differ widely in design and purpose, they are not developed 
in a uniform way. As described under VI. Stakeholder and Public 
Involvement Opportunities above, EPA and the states employ various 
stakeholder and public involvement methods for individual products, 
which differ in scope and timing.

5. Publication Frequency and Dissemination

    A. One commenter stated that the IPB should be published quarterly 
since many information products can be developed much more quickly than 
rulemakings, which are listed semi-annually in EPA's Regulatory Agenda. 
Another commenter stated that the draft IPB Framework Plan was unclear 
about whether ``soon to be released'' products would be listed in the 
IPB every 3 or 6 months.

    Response: In response to comments submitted, we decided to 
change the frequency at which the IPB will be published to every 
four months. This will eliminate the originally proposed hybrid of 
producing a full publication every six months and partial updates 
every three months. We recognize that such an approach could have 
been confusing for many IPB readers, and that a shorter interval 
between full publications would be helpful.

    B. One commenter stated that the IPB should be a living document 
that can be modified at any time. The comment also included the 
following statements: ``The digital divide problem should not restrain 
EPA from updating the IPB regularly. Those without a computer can 
access the Web site in public libraries. Web updates serve computer and 
non-computer users better than `a policy that simply defers public 
release of information.' There is no reason to withhold information 
about new products under development until the next IPB cycle occurs.''

    Response: Collecting and assembling the information necessary to 
produce every IPB publication is a resource intensive effort. EPA 
does not have the resources it would take to adequately update the 
IPB more than every four months. In addition, we believe that many 
users lack the resources necessary to keep a daily watch on the IPB 
Web site for constant changes. Thus, we believe it is best to 
publish the IPB at regular, reliable intervals to reduce the burden 
on the public and the Agency.

    C. Two commenters supported the draft IPB Framework Plan's proposal 
to make the IPB available in both print and electronic forms as a means 
to ``pre-empt `digital divide' issues.'' One commenter opposed such an 
approach, stating that the IPB should be maintained exclusively as an 
electronic service, in order to save trees and keep costs down. This 
commenter asked if the IPB were to be made available in hard copy, 
where the hard copies would be placed.

    Response: EPA wants to encourage electronic access to the IPB. 
However, we believe that it is important to provide hard copies of 
the IPB to those without access to a computer or the Internet, so 
that they have equal access to information about significant 
information products under development by EPA and some of the 
states. Hard copies will be produced at the same time the IPB Web 
site is updated and will be made available upon request through Fax-
on-Demand or by mail.

    D. Two commenters requested that EPA disseminate the IPB via email.

    Response: EPA does not plan to distribute the IPB via email. EPA 
believes that the IPB Web site will be easily accessible 
electronically through various links on EPA's Web site, as well 
through the ECOS Web site and several state Web sites. IPB updates 
will also be made available by request through Fax-on-Demand and by 
mail.

6. Interim IPB List

    A. One commenter stated that ``Some important initiatives are 
missing from the Interim IPB, such as `Window to My Environment,' as 
well as some products that are undergoing major modifications, such as 
various OW watershed-related Web sites, and potentially significant 
changes to AIRNOW and EMPACT.''

    Response: The Interim IPB Web site was intended to provide an 
``initial'' list of significant information products and did not 
provide as much detail as will be provided in the full IPB. ``Window 
to My Environment'' was included in the Interim IPB as part of the 
description for the ``Information Integration Initiative.''
    Although some design features were changed for AIRNOW on EPA's 
Web site this past Fall, no new significant information or data sets 
were added. Thus, AIRNOW was not included in the Interim IPB.
    The EMPACT program is not a significant information product. It 
is an EPA program that helps communities to collect, manage, and 
present real-time environmental information to the public. EPA has 
produced several significant information products through the EMPACT 
program. In addition, many locally sponsored projects have been 
funded through EPA's EMPACT Metro Grant Projects Initiative. Only 
future non-grant-funded EMPACT products will be listed in the IPB, 
as explained below under 6.C.

    B. One commenter asked why the TRI annual report was included in 
the Interim IPB, but not the Fuel Economy Guide, and why the New Jersey 
Pesticide Exposure Study was included, but no other such local/state 
studies.

    Response: The only significant information products listed in 
the Interim IPB were those that were to be released between the time 
when the Web site was launched in October 2000 and Summer 2001, when 
the first, full IPB was expected to be launched. The Fuel Economy 
Guide was not included in the Interim IPB because it was released in 
September 2000, prior to the release of the Interim Web site. Future 
annual publications of the Fuel Economy Guide will be included in 
the IPB.
    The New Jersey Pesticide Exposure Study was included in the 
Interim IPB because it was originally expected to be used as a pilot 
for a nation-wide project. However, expansion of the project will 
depend upon results from field tests conducted in the New Jersey 
project. We will make case-by-case determinations regarding the 
likelihood that a product being piloted or tested in a particular 
state will eventually be expanded nation-wide, and thus eligible for 
inclusion in the IPB.

    C. One commenter stated that projects that cross several states or 
regions, like

[[Page 35428]]

many of the EMPACT projects, should be included.

    Response: Many EMPACT products are funded through EPA grants and 
cooperative agreements. According to the EPA financial assistance 
regulations, products produced under grants and cooperative 
agreements belong to the financial assistance recipient, not EPA. 
The Agency can use a product produced with financial assistance for 
federal purposes but cannot unilaterally decide on the content of 
the product. Thus products produced with EPA financial assistance 
will not be included in the IPB. Non-grant-funded EMPACT products 
that cross several states or regions and meet the definition of 
significant information product will be included in the IPB.

7. Special Status/Legal Standing

    A. One commenter recommended that EPA clearly state that products 
included in the IPB have no special status or standing beyond their 
inclusion in the IPB, and that they will not be subject to additional 
review by the agency, the courts or other entities beyond the processes 
for public participation and review already in place.

    Response: The inclusion of a particular information product in 
the IPB, in and of itself, does not confer any special legal status 
on the product. In addition, it should be noted that the IPB is not 
intended to be used to publish regulatory matters requiring 
publication in the Federal Register.

8. State Participation

    A. One commenter asked if the states that are participating in the 
IPB will be listed as participants. The commenter further noted that 
not all states participate in ECOS.

    Response: Any state can participate in the IPB, regardless of 
whether or not it is a member of ECOS. State participation is, 
however, entirely voluntary. The IPB will include only those 
significant information products produced by one or more states, 
that are regional or national in scope and include aggregated data 
from more than one state.

9. Product Listings and Descriptions

    A. One commenter requested that all product descriptions include a 
brief statement about the origins of each product, and statutory 
citations where appropriate. The commenter recommended that it would 
also be helpful to include some type of policy context/link to an 
aspect of EPA's mission, and a reference to appropriate GPRA strategic 
objective.

    Response: The IPB is a notification mechanism. It is not 
intended to provide detailed information about each product. Contact 
information will be provided for all those interested in getting 
more in-depth information about individual products.

    B. One commenter recommended that in addition to including product 
prototypes for review and comment, EPA should post explanations of 
methodologies used in modeling components and/or analytical tools.

    Response: As explained above, the IPB is not intended to provide 
detailed information about each product. Contact information will be 
provided for all those interested in getting more in-depth 
information about individual products.

    C. One commenter requested that the IPB allow users to view 
already-released, as well as upcoming significant information products. 
The commenter further stated: ``We support initiatives to provide more 
finder tools to the public, such as an index of information products 
that would be more comprehensive in scope and an information locator 
system.''

    Response: The primary purpose of the IPB is to provide pre-
publication notification of significant information products under 
development. The IPB is not intended to provide a list of EPA's 
completed information products. However, EPA plans to archive 
previous IPB publications, and each new IPB publication will list 
those products completed and released since the previous update.

    D. One commenter recommended that the IPB be edited in order to 
``normalize the submissions'' and ensure completeness.

    Response: The EPA or state program responsible for producing an 
individual information product is most familiar with it, and is thus 
best able to describe it. However, EPA's Office of Environmental 
Information will review and edit items to ensure that they are 
written in plain English and use a consistent format.

10. IPB and the EPA Web Site

    A. One commenter recommended that the IPB serve as a ``hub'' site, 
i.e., a gateway to other information and web pages, with links to key 
supporting documents and program descriptions associated with the 
listed documents.

    Response: The IPB is not intended to be an EPA hub site. 
However, links to key supporting documents will be provided as 
appropriate.

    B. One commenter stated that EPA's home page should be improved to 
better track new developments at the Agency and on EPA's various Web 
sites.

    Response: The IPB is a separate initiative from the EPA home 
page. EPA has several initiatives in place to improve the usefulness 
of the EPA homepage, as well as the Agency's various Web sites.

    Dated: June 4, 2001.
Elaine G. Stanley,
Director, Office of Information Analysis and Access.
[FR Doc. 01-16808 Filed 7-3-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P