EPA Headquarters is seeking State and EPA Regional participation in workgroups to assist planning efforts for the redesign of the Assessment TMDL Tracking and ImplementatioN System (ATTAINS). ATTAINS provides public access to Clean Water Act Section 305(b) and 303(d) Integrated Reporting (IR) information on assessed and impaired waters. As part of this redesign, EPA is looking to reduce State IR reporting burden and to replace the current Assessment Database (ADB) used by several States for tracking, storing, and reporting their IR data. EPA will also develop robust methods for exchanging IR data for those States not currently ADB users. Participation from Exchange Network Partners will help deliver a better redesigned system, and provide improvements to the data exchange process.
EPA is looking for State and EPA Regional participation in four ATTAINS Workgroups:
- Data Elements and Schema,
- Data Exchange Methodology,
- Performance Evaluation Measures, and
- Improved Assessment Methods.
These Workgroups will lay the groundwork for an Integrated Project Team (IPT) to be formed in late 2014. The ATTAINS IPT will evaluate the recommendations from the Workgroups and formalize recommendations to adhere with Exchange Network protocols. Invitations to participate in the IPT will be announced via EN Alert.
The Workgroups will meet monthly via teleconference starting in October 2013 and continuing on through August 2014. EPA would like to identify members for each workgroup by September 16, 2013. If you are interested in participating in any of the ATTAINS Workgroups or have any questions, please contact Dwane Young by phone at 202.566.1214 or email at young.dwane [at] epa.gov.
Dwane Young
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
P: 202.566.1214
E: young.dwane [at] epa.gov