From the Environmental Data & Governance Initiative:
We are thrilled to announce a brand new initiative.Catalog of open federal datasetsNow available on EDGIs Environmental Enforcement Watch website. EEW is a group of people who work together to analyze and present EPA data about violations of environmental laws and inspections of polluting plants. EEW has focused its analysis so far on EPAs Enforcement and Compliance History Online(ECHO) data. ECHO is just one of many federal data tools that cover environmental pollution. Our new External Resources page lists around forty tools so individuals and groups can easily find information on the topics that interest them.
The EEW project aims at helping community groups advocate for environmental justice. It makes the federal government’s pollution and permit data more accessible and transparent. EEW has spoken with over 25 community organizations over the past 2 years. They have heard a wide variety of concerns. Many can be partially investigated using open datasets. We have heard a variety of concerns, from one group wanting to understand the possible health effects of chemicals emitted in a particular area to another group wanting to know which corporations are responsible for climate change.
Interactive versions of our website are now available Data Research ToolsECHO data is easier to query for specific types of questions. However, additional datasets contain many more records. We hope to assist community researchers and other users in their investigations into places and topics that they care about by curating a list from the Integrated Risk Information System, (IRIS), which documents human health effects of certain toxic chemicals, and the Assessment, Total Maximum Daily Load Tracking and Implementation System, (ATTAINS), which evaluates the quality of surface waters.
Direct to Complete Launch Announcement
Direct to New Catalog of Open Federal Datasets
A Related Note: New EPA Tool provides the public with custom updates on local enforcement activities and compliance activities
