Many clearinghouses, hotlines, and electronic bulletin boards have been developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to respond to legislative initiatives requiring the agency to provide outreach, communications, and technology transfer to businesses, individuals, and other organizations. Clearinghouses facilitate the exchange of critical information and are also useful as a central access point for hard-to locate technical reports and documents. The following information clearinghouses and hotlines may be of particular interest to manufacturers.
Air and Radiation
Environmental Protection Agency Phone Numbers:
Aerometric Information Retrieval System Bulletin Board (919) 541-5742 Air Risk Information Support Center Hotline (919) 541-0888 Air/Superfund Coordination Program (919) 541-5589 Control Technology Center Hotline (919) 541-5285 Inspection, Control, and Compliance Technical Information Clearinghouse (919) 541-4571 Small Business Assistance Program Support Center Hotline (919) 541-0800
Pesticides and Toxic Substances
Toxic Substances Control Act Assistance Information Service U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Assistance Division, 7408 401 M Street, SW Washington, DC 20460 (202) 554-1404
Provides information on TSCA regulations to industry, labor and trade organizations, environmental groups, and the public. Technical as well as general information is available.
Hazardous and Solid Waste
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Information Hotline Booz, Allen & Hamilton 1725 Jefferson Davis Highway Arlington, VA 22202 (800) 535-0202
Provides regulatory, policy, and technical assistance to federal agencies, local, and state governments, the public, and the regulated community in response to questions related to the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (Title III of SARA).
Solid Waste Information Clearinghouse and Hotline P.O. Box 7219-20907 1100 Wayne Avenue, #700 Silver Spring, MD 20910 (800) 67-SWICH
Developed and partially funded by the Solid Waste Association of North America and EPA, SWICH comprises a library system and an electronic bulletin board, and provides information on all aspects of solid waste management, including source reduction, recycling, composting, planning, education and training, legislation and regulation, waste combustion, collection, transfer, disposal, landfill gas, and special wastes.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act/Superfund/Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act Hotline Storage Tank Hotline (RCRA/SF/OUST) 1725 Jefferson Davies Highway Arlington, VA 22202 (800) 424-9346
Provides information pertaining to federal EPA regulations, policy, and documents to federal EPA regulations, policy, and documents to federal agencies, local and state governments, the public, and the regulated community in response to questions related to RCRA, underground storage tank issues, SF, Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), EPCRA, SARA Title III, and radiation site cleanup standards.
Hazardous Waste Ombudsman Program U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 401 M Street, SW, Room SE 301 Washington, DC 20460 (800) 262-7937
The hazardous-waste management program established under the RCRA is the most complex regulatory program developed by the EPA. It assists the public and regulated community in resolving problems concerning any program or requirement under the hazardous waste regulations. The Ombudsman Program, located at headquarters and in each regional office handles complaints from citizens and the regulated community, obtains facts, sorts information, and substantiates policy.
National Response Center U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters 2100 Second Street, SW, Room 2611 Washington, DC 20593 (202) 267-2675 or (800) 424-8802
Receives reports of oil, hazardous chemical, biological, and radiological releases. The NRC then passes those reports to a predesignated federal on scene coordinator who coordinates cleanup efforts with other responsible federal agencies.
Methods Information Communications Exchange (MICE) c/o Science Applications 7600-A Lewisburg Pike Falls Church, VA 22043 (703) 821-4789
Provides information on analytical test methods for the characterization of hazardous waste in support of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Pollution Prevention
Stratospheric Ozone Information Hotline Technical Resources 501 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 (800) 296-1996
Provides consultation on ozone protection regulations and requirements under Title VI of the Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) of 1990. Title VI covers the following key aspects of the production, use, and safe disposal of ozone-depleting chemicals: (1) production and phase-out controls; (2) servicing of motor vehicle air conditioners; (3) recycling and emission reduction; (4) technician and equipment certification; (5) approval of alternatives; (6) ban of nonessential uses; (7) product labeling; and (8) federal procurement.
Water
National Small Flows Clearinghouse West Virginia University P.O. Box 6064 Morgantown, WV 26506 (800) 624-8301
Distributes publications and videotapes, performs literature searches, operates a toll-free hotline, produces free newsletters, and operates a computer bulletin board.
Small Business
Small Business Ombudsman Clearinghouse/Hotline U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Small Business Ombudsman, 1230C 401 M Street, SW Washington, DC 20460 (703) 305-5938 Fax: (703) 305-6462
Apprises the trade associations representing small business interests of current regulatory developments.
For Further Information
Access EPA from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is a free directory listing of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other public sector environmental information resources. To obtain a copy, contact the Public Information Center at U.S.E.P.A at (202) 260-2080. This annual directory provides information on documents, dockets, clearinghouses and hotlines, records, databases, models, EPA libraries, and state libraries. Access EPA is also available via the Internet, using Gopher, at gopher.epa.gov.