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Government Documents: Environment

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)

Environmental Protection Agency IconEnvironmental Protection Agency ⌨: NOAA's Mission: Science, Service and Stewardship -- 1. To understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans and coasts; 2. To share that knowledge and information with others; and 3. To conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.: EPA researches 3 primary areas: water, air, and waste & pollution, and how these areas affect human health, the ecosystem and the climate. EPA develops and enforces regulations, gives grants, studies environmental issues, sponsors partnerships, and teaches people about the environment.

Environmental Topics: Air ♦ Bed Bugs ♦ Chemicals & Toxics ♦ Climate Change ♦ Environmental Information by Location ♦ Greener Living ♦ Health ♦ Land, Waste & Cleanup ♦ Lead ♦ Mold ♦ Pesticides ♦ Radon ♦ Water ♦ A to Z Index

Laws & Regulations:

  • Laws written by Congress provide the authority for EPA to write regulations: Clean Air Act ♦ Clean Water Act ♦ Toxic Substances Control Act ♦ Laws & Executive Orders
  • Regulations explain the technical, operational, and legal details necessary to implement laws.
  • EPA helps regulated entities meet federal requirements, and holds entities legally accountable for environmental violations.
  • EPA issues policy and guidance documents to assist the public and regulated entities.

National Service Center for Environmental Publications

Geospatial Resources at EPA

Air Data: Air Quality Data Collected at Outdoor Monitors Across the US

Air Emissions Inventories: Detailed estimate of air emissions that include criteria pollutants and hazardous air pollutants.

AirNow: Daily Air Quality Index conditions for over 400 cities.

BenMAP-CE: Environmental Benefits Mapping & Analysis Program - Community Edition: Open-source computer program that calculates the number and economic value of air pollution-related deaths and illnesses.

Carbon Footprint Calculator

Chemistry Dashboard: Provides access to a variety of information on over 700,000 chemicals currently in use.

ChemView: Information on chemical health and safety data received by EPA and EPA's assessments and regulatory actions for specific chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

Climate Change Adaptation Resource Center (ARC-X): Interactive resource to help local governments effectively deliver services to their communities even as the climate changes.

Community-Focused Exposure & Risk Screening Tool: Provides access to resources that can be used to help communities learn more about their environmental issues and risks.

Consumer Confidence Reports: Annual drinking water quality report from your water supplier. Your CCR tells you where your water comes from and what's in it.

EJSCREEN: Environmental Justice Screening & Mapping Tool: Provides EPA with a nationally consistent dataset and approach for combining environmental and demographic indicators.

Energy Star: EPA voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals save money and protect our climate through superior energy efficiency.

EnviroAtlas: Interactive resources for exploring the benefits people receive from nature or "ecosystem goods and services" (EGS).

EnviroFACTS: Environmental information by geographic location.

Environmental Dataset Gateway: EPA data search.

Environmental Impact Statement Database: The EIS Database provides information about EISs prepared by federal agencies, as well as EPA's comments concerning the EISs.

ExpoBox: Toolbox created to assist individuals from within government, industry, academia, and the general public with assessing exposure.

Find Information about Your Beach

HERO: Health & Environmental Research Online: Learn about the studies used in EPA's science assessments.

Integrated Risk Information System: Identifies and characterizes the health hazards of chemicals found in the environment.

Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program

MyEnviroMapper: Access to several EPA databases to provide you with information about environmental activities that may affect air, water, and land anywhere in the U.S. Learn about environmental activities in your area or generate maps of environmental information.

MyEnvironment: Environmental information by geographic location.

National Listing of Fish Advisories

Natural Gas Extraction - Hydraulic Fracturing

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Regulatory Development & Retrospective Review Tracker: Provides information on the status of EPA's priority rulemakings, as well as information on the status of retrospective reviews of existing regulations.

Pesticide Chemical Search

Safer Chemical Ingredients List

Safer Choice: Helps consumers, businesses, and purchasers find products that perform well and are safer for human health and the environment. 

Substance Registry Service: Iinformation about chemicals, biological organisms and other substances tracked or regulated by EPA.

Sustainable Marketplace: Greener Products & Services

WasteWise: Encourages organizations and businesses to achieve sustainability in their practices and reduce select industrial wastes.

Water Sense: Use Less Water

NATIONAL OCEANIC & ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA)

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration IconNational Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration ⌨: NOAA's Mission: Science, Service and Stewardship -- 1. To understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans and coasts; 2. To share that knowledge and information with others; and 3. To conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.

⌨=Link to agency organizational chart

Weather ♦ Climate ♦ Oceans & Coasts ♦ Fisheries ♦ Satellites ♦ Research ♦ Marine & Aviation ♦ Charting ♦ Sanctuaries ♦ Education

Weather Forecast Tools & Resources

Ocean & Coastal Tools, Sanctuary Permits, Charts & Images

Fisheries Regulations, Permits, Data Reporting & Restoration Projects

Satellite Imagery, Reports & Launch Information

Climate Data & Reports

Educational Resources

NOAA Central Library

NOAA Agencies:

  • National Centers for Environmental Information: NCEI is responsible for hosting and providing access to one of the most significant archives on Earth, with comprehensive oceanic, atmospheric, and geophysical data. From the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun and from million-year-old sediment records to near real-time satellite images, NCEI is the Nation’s leading authority for environmental information.
  • National Environmental Satellite, Data & Information Services: NESDIS provides secure and timely access to global environmental data and information from satellites and other sources to promote and protect the Nation's security, environment, economy, and quality of life.
  • National Marine Fisheries Service: NOAA Fisheries is responsible for the stewardship of the nation's ocean resources and their habitat. They provide vital services for the nation: productive and sustainable fisheries, safe sources of seafood, the recovery and conservation of protected resources, and healthy ecosystems—all backed by sound science and an ecosystem-based approach to management.
  • National Ocean Service: NOS mission is to provide science-based solutions through collaborative partnerships to address evolving economic, environmental, and social pressures on our ocean and coasts.
  • National Weather Service: Provides weather, water, and climate data, forecasts and warnings for the protection of life and property and enhancement of the national economy.
  • Office of Marine & Aviation Operations : OMAO manages and operates NOAA's fleet of 16 research and survey ships and nine aircraft. Comprised of civilians and officers of the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, OMAO also manages the NOAA Diving Program, NOAA Small Boat Program and NOAA Aviation Safety Program.
  • Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research: OAR - or "NOAA Research" - provides the research foundation for understanding the complex systems that support our planet. Working in partnership with other organizational units of NOAA, NOAA Research enables better forecasts, earlier warnings for natural disasters, and a greater understanding of the Earth. OAR role is to provide unbiased science to better manage the environment, nationally, and globally.

Primary components of NOAA Research:

Climate.gov: Scientific data & information about climate.

OTHER ENVIRONMENT RESOURCES