The need to collect, exchange, and analyze large amounts of data — about health records, environmental measurements, and stimulus spending, for example — is transforming the way government works. And in the future, agencies will rely even more on information exchange as a means of accomplishing America’s business.

The Environmental Protection Agency is on the forefront of tackling this challenge through the EPA Exchange Network. The network is a partnership among states, tribes, and the EPA that is revolutionizing environmental information sharing. This approach provides real-time access to high-quality data while saving time, resources, and money for partner states, tribes, and territories.

"Practical Transparency: Applying Exchange Networks for Mission Results," the final webinar of a three-part series in partnership with Government Executive, shares the story of the Exchange Network and outlines how other agencies and states can improve mission delivery by leveraging the EPA model.  This Executive Guide provides lessons learned from the Exchange Network and identifies key takeaways from the discussion.

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A full replay of the webinar is available here:

Today’s webinar opened an important discussion that should continue. Please join the dialogue by sharing your questions and comments, lessons learned and actionable insights with interested colleagues by clicking here.

You can view the archived version of this webinar here.

Components of the Exchange Network:

• Collaboration among EPA and its state, tribal and territorial partners
• Technology:
  • Node software (software that sends and receives data using common formats over the Internet)
  • Shared tools and services (e.g., network security, data discovery)
• Grant Program:
  
  • $130M+ in grants to develop infrastructure and flow data (FY 2002 to present)

The diagram below illustrates the basic technical architecture of the Exchange Network:

Exchange Network Benefits:

The EPA Exchange Network delivers many benefits to its partners.  For example, the Return on Investment Study showed average annual ROI for participating states ranging from 15 to 61 percent.  Other partner benefits include:

• Improved data quality – the Exchange Network helps to eliminate faulty and duplicative data entry, and transmission of invalid submissions.
• Better data integration – partners using the Exchange Network can now integrate environmental information across inconsistent sources, programs and databases.
• Timely availability of environmental data – the use of Web services and the Internet enable the Exchange Network to provide immediate access to published data.
• Reduced burden – partners using the Exchange Network can reduce the costs and burden associated with reporting data.
• Improved decision making – partners may use the Exchange Network to access integrated, high quality data when making environmental decisions
• Improved environmental protection – increased quantity, quality, and timeliness of data available to managers leads to better decisions
• Better informed public – improved access to data
• Automated data submission and retrieval – Web services allow secure computer-to-computer connection on a scheduled basis
• Security –  the Exchange Network is protected by a centralized security system
• Authorization and authentication –  the Exchange Network allows partners to control access to their data.

• Transition from paper to electronic reporting – reduces cost associated with managing paper.
• Elimination of dual data entry – results in improved quality and timeliness while reducing costs
• Automated error checking and validation – improves data quality and timeliness while reducing costs
• Streamlined business operations – reduces costs

Exchange Network Key Success Factors:

• Reduced burden on States - Innovative Grants Program
• Strong ROI for Usage
• Established and Collaborative Governance Structure
• Use of Standards for Data Exchange - adoption of Web Services
• Support for Transparency Requirements

Success Stories: Electronic Drinking Water Report | Pacific Northwest Water Quality Data Exchange | Facility Registry System (FRS)

Mission-focused Exchanges:

Opportunity for Reuse:

The following factors make the EPA Exchange Network a proven model that can be leveraged by other agencies and states to improve mission delivery:

• Potential to assist where there is a need to securely move data using web services; system independence overcomes differences between data systems
• Established governance model, processes, and procedures
• Open source code is supported on multiple platforms and available for reuse (Java and .Net Versions)
• General web services are available to validate/QA (XML schema and extended business rules) submit, query
• Existing, proven security model using network authorization and authentication service
• Low cost to implement.

Key Practical Takeaways:

• Think about data not just systems
• Establishing a governance strategy is a must
• Use of web services is the way to go when reporting/data exchange is required – but XML training is also a must
• Defining data standards/requirements across a reporting community, in a collaborative manner, is critical to designing the exchange
• A well-trained help desk, with performance metrics tracked, is essential
• Client nodes for machine-to-machine data exchange is an opportunity for improved data quality and less manual submission
• Build in automatic quality checks on data as it is submitted.

Additional Resources:

EPA Exchange Network

EPA Central Data Exchange (CDX)

Environmental Information Exchange Network

My Environment

Data.gov | Apps.gov | USASpending.gov

Recovery.gov | FederalReporting.gov

Webinar Video featuring Lisa Schlosser:

Lisa Schlosser

Lisa Schlosser heads the Office of Information Collection in the EPA’s Office of Environmental Information. She leads the agency’s collection of environmental data submissions from state and local governments, industry, and tribes, and is playing a large role in expanding data collection efforts to meet Recovery Act requirements. Previously, Ms. Schlosser was chief information officer for the Housing and Urban Development Department. Before that, she served as the Transportation Department’s associate CIO and chief information security officer, and as associate CIO for IT security.

Before joining the federal government, Ms. Schlosser was vice president of business operations and response services for Global Integrity, and a senior manager for Ernst & Young LLP. Ms. Schlosser was a military intelligence officer with the Army, and continues to serve as a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a master’s of science in administration from Central Michigan University.