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EPA Awards Maryland a $297,700 Environmental Information Grant

Release Date: 8/21/2003
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543

Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543

PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) nearly $300,000 to help the department expand its information technology resources as part of a national initiative to collect and share environmental data.

“The grant awarded to Maryland will smooth the transfer of data online.
EPA’s goal is a national environmental management system that provides citizens with the best environmental data possible,” said Donald S. Welsh, mid-Atlantic regional administrator.

This $297,700grant will assist MDE to build upon its internal environmental information technology investments while sharing its data with public, private and governmental parties across a nation wide internet based network.

This is the first phase of fiscal year 2003 funding for ongoing work on the national environmental information exchange network, which shares environmental data between EPA, states, tribes and other partners over the Internet. When completed, the exchange network will integrate state and federal environmental data, facilitate the reporting of data to EPA Headquarters by the states, and improve data quality.

The exchange network is part of an e-government initiative using Internet technology to streamline reporting, improve the delivery of timely and reliable data to citizens, and increase cooperation among federal, state, and tribal authorities.

These funds are part of the $2 million in environmental information grants to four states, the District of Columbia and two Native American tribes. Other grantees include:

• Cherokee Nation (Okla.), challenge grant of $190,000
• Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
readiness grant of $297,700
• District of Columbia Department of Health, one stop grant of $500,000
• Kansas Department of Health and Environment, readiness grant of
$297,700
• North Dakota Department of Health, environmental health section
one stop grant of $500,000
• Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe ( N.Y.), readiness grant of $100,000.

More information on the different types of grants and EPA’s national environmental information exchange network is available at: .