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Information Resources
- EPA Programs
- EPA Analytical Methods
- EPA Ship Disposal Guidance
- Searchable EPA Databases
- Non-EPA PCB Information Sources
EPA Programs
The Office of Emergency and Remedial Response - Congress established the Superfund Program in 1980 to locate, investigate, and clean up the worst hazardous waste sites nationwide. The EPA administers the Superfund program in cooperation with individual states and tribal governments. The office that oversees management of the program is the Office of Emergency and Remedial Response (OERR).
The Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance -The Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA), working in partnership with EPA Regional Offices, State Governments, Tribal Governments and other Federal agencies, ensures compliance with the nation's environmental laws. Employing an integrated approach of compliance assistance, compliance incentives and innovative civil and criminal enforcement, OECA and its partners seek to maximize compliance and reduce threats to public health and the environment.
The Office of Science and Technology's Listing of Fish and Wildlife Advisories - This database includes all available information describing state-, tribal-, and federally-issued fish consumption advisories in the United States for the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and four US Territories, and in Canada for the 12 provinces and territories. The database contains information provided to EPA by the states, tribes, territories and Canada.
EPA Analytical Methods
EPA's SW-846 - The EPA publication SW-846, entitled Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods, is EPA's official compendium of analytical and sampling methods that have been evaluated and approved for use in complying with the RCRA regulations. SW-846 functions primarily as a guidance document setting forth acceptable, although not required, methods for the regulated and regulatory communities to use in responding to RCRA-related sampling and analysis requirements.
Index to EPA Test Methods - To respond to frequent requests for agency test methods, Library staff developed a methods index as a reference tool to help locate copies. Confirming that no one volume containing all agency methods and no comprehensive list of them existed, in 1988 the EPA Region 1 Library produced a printed report: Index to EPA Test Methods published as EPA 901/3-88-001. Since 1988, the Index has been updated periodically to reflect new procedures and to remove superseded or revoked methods. It includes only EPA methods and its primary goal is to identify a source and vendor from which the actual method can be obtained, either free or for a fee.
EPA Ship Disposal Guidance
A Guide for Ship Scrappers: Tips for Regulatory Compliance -Federal Facilities Enforcement Office - a resource and guidance document for those involved in ship scrapping/breaking industry
National Guidance: Best Management Practices for Preparing Vessels Intended to Create Artificial Reefs - In response to a Maritime Administration request, EPA established and led an interagency workgroup to develop best management practices to be used in the preparation of vessels for use as artificial reefs. This guidance identifies materials or categories of materials of concern that may be found aboard vessels and specifically identifies where they may be found. For each material or category of material, the document provides a narrative clean-up performance goal and information on methods for achieving those goals in preparation of the vessel prior to sinking. Materials of concern include, but are not limited to, fuels and oil, asbestos, PCBs, paints, solids/debris/floatables, and any other materials of environmental concern (e.g., mercury and refrigerants).
Searchable EPA Databases
Enviromapper - view and query environmental information. EnviroMapper maps several types of environmental information, including drinking water, toxic and air releases, hazardous waste, water discharge permits and Superfund sites
Envirofacts Warehouse - An EPA searchable database. Choose the "Queries, Maps and Reports" and follow the instructions or the "EF Overview" option to learn more about this database and initiative.
Non-EPA Information Resources
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) - The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the Federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related disease and injury. The Institute is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). NIOSH has a variety of publications on PCBs. To locate these documents, enter PCBs or Polychlorinated Biphenyls or PCB in NIOSH's search function.
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) - The mission of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is to save lives, prevent injuries and protect the health of America's workers. To accomplish this, federal and state governments must work in partnership with the more than 100 million working men and women and their six and a half million employers who are covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. OSHA has a variety of publications on PCBs. To locate these documents, enter PCBs or Polychlorinated Biphenyls or PCB in OSHA's search function.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) - The mission of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), as an agency of the US Department of Health and Human Services, is to prevent exposure and adverse human health effects and diminished quality of life associated with exposure to hazardous substances from waste sites, unplanned releases, and other sources of pollution present in the environment.