PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
Information is fundamental to the work of environmental protection. Environmental decision makers at all levels need timely and high quality environmental information to make informed decisions. Yet, many of the current systems and approaches to information exchange are not designed to meet those needs. EPA, through work with the Environmental Council of the States, has developed a new vision for exchanging environmental data that, when fully established, will help meet those needs. The National Environmental Information Exchange Network (Network) is a major component of the solution envisioned by EPA. The Network utilizes technologies and approaches that help create E-commerce and will provide an alternative to the current approach of exchanging data. These data exchanges will replace and complement the traditional approach to information exchange that currently relies upon data being processed directly to multiple EPA national data systems. Network participants will house information on their own nodes or portals where it will be available upon authorized request.

 ELIGIBLE FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES:
1. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY;
- Research, Education, Training;

 WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM:
- Federal;
- State;
- Local;
- Specialized group (e.g. health professionals, students, veterans);

 WHO CAN APPLY:
- State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- U.S. Territories and possessions (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals);